The U.S. visa guarantee deposit will increase to as high as $20,000 and become a long-term requirement.

On July 31, the U.S. Federal Register announced online that the U.S. State Department will make the visa cash bond system for citizens of certain countries permanent, with citizens from 50 countries facing cash bonds of up to $20,000. The announcement states that this regulation applies to individuals applying for U.S. B1 and B2 visas for business or tourism purposes. Consular officers may require the payment of a cash bond as a condition for issuing visas based on specific circumstances. The new rule will take effect when it is officially published in the Federal Register on August 3. Among the 50 countries subject to this system, 30 are in Africa.