A visitor visa to the United States has now become a contract: "You gi

A visitor visa to the United States has now become a contract: "You give me something- give you something." The contract is for up to 15,000. A list of countries is attached.

A visitor visa to the United States is no longer simply an entry permit.

Starting in 2025–2026, it has effectively become a contract in which the state insures itself in advance against the risk of violating the terms of stay, not by refusal, but by paying a fee.

The model is now different. If an officer approves a B1/B2 visa for a citizen of a country from an established list during the interview, the next step is the mandatory payment of a visa deposit. Without this deposit, the visa is not stamped in the passport. Formally, the person is deemed to meet the visa requirements. In practice, visa approval is granted only after financial support is provided.

The deposit amount is $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The officer determines the amount. The deposit is mandatory.

The money is refunded only if all visa conditions are met. If the applicant does not leave the United States on time or applies for asylum upon arrival, the deposit is retained by the government.

There is the list of countries whose citizens must pay the mandatory visa deposit.

Starting in late 2025 or early 2026, the requirement will apply to citizens of the following countries:

Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Why this changes the nature of the visa?

B1/B2 visas aren't just for tourism. They include visits by parents and grandparents, medical treatment, family events, symposiums, academic conferences, and short-term trips without immigration intent. The introduction of a deposit means that the admission criterion is not only trustworthiness but also solvency.

As a result, the visa remains formally accessible, but in reality, it becomes unattainable for the less well-off segment of the population, who physically cannot freeze tens of thousands of dollars for a short visit.

The United States was the first to formalize what had long been discussed behind the scenes:

guest entry is now guaranteed by a cash guarantee.

Whether this is good or bad is a matter for a separate debate.

But one thing is clear: this is an example that other countries will closely follow. And it is quite possible they will replicate it.

Oleksandra Melnykova, Canadian Immigration and Refugee Consultant.