The US Department of State has announced that the Visa Financial Guarantee Program will be implemented on a permanent basis for citizens of 50 countries, mainly from Africa; under this program, some applicants for business and tourist visas may provide financial guarantees of up to $20,000, at the discretion of consular officers.
Reuters reported that the regulation covers B1 and B2 visas and will take effect on August 3, 2026, after publication in the Federal Register.
The US State Department has stated that the purpose of this measure is to prevent overstaying of visas and to ensure compliance with immigration laws; while in the experimental phase the guarantee limit was $15,000, in the new regulations this amount has been increased to $20,000.
Immigrant rights advocates have warned, however, that the decision could make legal travel to the United States more difficult and deter some people from applying for visas.
