State Dept Lets Bosses Skip Visa Bonds for VIPs
Published Date: 9/16/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Department of State is giving two top officials the power to waive visa bond requirements when it’s in the country’s best interest. This means certain travelers or groups might skip the usual bond rules, speeding up their visa process. No new costs or deadlines are mentioned, but this change makes visa decisions quicker and more flexible.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Delegates Visa-bond Waiver Power
The Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs delegated the authority under 22 CFR 41.11(c)(3) to waive the visa bond requirement to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services. The delegation says the waiver can apply to an individual alien, an entire country, or a category of aliens and that the authority must be exercised by an Officer of the United States.
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