The United States will make its visa security deposit program permanent, increasing the maximum required deposit for certain visa applicants from $15,000 to $20,000, according to new guidance from the U.S. State Department.

The revised policy will apply to applicants seeking B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas from countries identified as having high visa overstay rates or weak document security systems.

Among the countries expected to be affected are Ethiopia, Djibouti, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, and Tanzania. Overall, the program covers 50 countries, including 30 in Africa.

Under the new rules, U.S. embassy and consular officials will have the discretion to require applicants to pay a refundable security deposit of up to $20,000, equivalent to more than 3.1 million Ethiopian birr at current exchange rates. Applicants who comply with the terms of their visa can receive the deposit back, while those who overstay their authorized stay may forfeit the funds.

The revised policy follows the expiration of a one-year pilot program launched in August 2025, which allowed consular officers to require deposits ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The updated program removes the previous minimum deposit of $5,000 and raises the maximum to $20,000, making the initiative a permanent part of U.S. visa policy.

According to the BBC, citing the U.S. State Department, the program is expected to take effect in the coming days and is intended to discourage visa overstays while strengthening compliance with U.S. immigration rules.