Covered visa applicants will be required to post a bond of up to $15,000, but the State Department gave consular officers three options for bond amounts: $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000. Consular officers can determine the exact amount of the bond “based upon the applicant’s circumstances.”

The U.S. State Department has started a program that will require some visitors to post bonds for as much as $15,000 to obtain a business or tourism visa.

The 12-month pilot program aims to deter visa overstays, but could create steep financial barriers for travelers from certain countries