The US travel industry is warning that a broader expansion of the Trump administration’s visa bond program could discourage international visitors and hurt the US economy, after the State Department made the program permanent for travelers from dozens of countries.
How events unfolded
He warned that such a move could have a significant impact on the travel sector and the wider US economy. The bond can be forfeited if the traveler overstays or violates other conditions of their US immigration status. The US Travel Association said it is concerned the visa bond requirement could eventually extend beyond the 50 countries currently covered. The program allows US consular officers to require certain tourist and business visa applicants to post refundable bonds of up to $20,000. Under the rules, eligible applicants for tourist and business visas may be required to pay a refundable bond of as much as $20,000. Freeman said the 50 countries currently covered account for less than 2% of visitors to the United States, but he pointed to broader declines in international travel. Travel from Canada has fallen 25%, according to the association, while travel from Asia is running at about half its 2019 level. Preliminary figures from the National Travel and Tourism Office show that overseas travel to the United States fell 4.3% year-to-date through June. International arrivals also declined 1.8% in June, during the FIFA World Cup.
Geoff Freeman, president of the US Travel Association, told Reuters that there were indications the administration could expand the program to additional countries where visas are required. The travel industry says the visa bond program comes as international tourism to the United States is already facing headwinds.
