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August 2025 Update: Visa Bond Pilot Program Now in Effect The U.S. Department of State has officially launched a 12-month Visa Bond Pilot Program, effective August 20, 2025, introducing a new financial requirement for select B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visa applicants. This move signals a more stringent stance by the U.S. government to address ongoing visa overstay issues and concerns around national security, particularly related to weak identity vetting and economic citizenship schemes. Under the rule, consular officers will have the authority to require applicants from designated countries to post a visa bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 before a visa...

Effective August 20, 2025, through August 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) is rolling out a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) that could impact certain B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visa applicants. Commonly known as the Visa Bond Pilot Program, this measure is designed to address concerns over visa overstays and to enhance vetting of travelers from specific countries. As an Immigration Attorney in New Jersey, we are closely following this policy shift because it could affect both individual travelers and businesses that depend on international visitors or partners. What is the Visa Bond Pilot Program? This program gives U.S. consular officers...

For thousands of immigrants stuck in the U.S. green card backlog for over a decade, the wait has been more than just frustrating — it’s been life-changing. A new bipartisan immigration proposal, The Dignity Act of 2025 (H.R. 4393), could change that. If passed, this bill would allow certain long-waiting applicants to pay a $20,000 premium fee to bypass the green card backlog entirely. At VKM Law Group, our Immigration Attorneys in New Jersey are closely monitoring this legislation and its potential impact on both family- and employment-based applicants. What Is the Dignity Act of 2025? The proposed bill would create an optional...