International touring musicians could soon face a major new cost to perform in the United States. The U.S. State Department is proposing a pilot program that would require certain visitors — including those traveling for business such as live performances — to post a bond of up to $15,000 before entering the country.
The proposed rule (according to PBS) published in the Federal Register as of August 5, would run for 12 months and target applicants from countries with high visa overstay rates or weak internal security and identity verification systems. The bonds would be set at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on the applicant’s country of origin, and could be refunded if the visitor complies with all visa conditions.
Impact on International Bands and Touring Artists
For many overseas bands, DJs, and solo performers, the B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visa categories are commonly used for short-term U.S. engagements, showcases, and promotional tours — particularly for acts that don’t qualify for more specialized visa categories like P-1 (internationally recognized performers) or O-1 (extraordinary ability).
If implemented, the new bond requirement could significantly increase upfront touring costs, potentially putting U.S. shows out of reach for smaller acts, independent artists, and emerging international bands.
Who Would Be Affected?
The State Department will release the full list of affected countries when the rule takes effect. Artists from countries in the Visa Waiver Program — which includes most of Europe, Australia, Japan, and a few others — will not be subject to the bond. However, artists from many parts of Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe could face the new fees if their home countries meet the government’s “high overstay” or “weak vetting” criteria.
This proposal comes alongside other changes to U.S. visa procedures. The State Department recently announced that more applicants for visa renewals will have to attend in-person interviews, and Diversity Visa Lottery entrants must now have a valid passport from their country of citizenship at the time of entry.
Why Now?
According to the State Department, the bond program is meant to ensure the U.S. government isn’t financially liable if a visitor overstays or violates the terms of their visa.
From the official notice: “Aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure and who are nationals of countries identified… may be subject to the pilot program.”
Visa bonds have been suggested before but never implemented, in part due to concerns over public perception and the administrative burden of managing the process. The department now argues that there is no recent evidence showing bonds can’t be successfully managed.
What This Means for International Tours
If adopted, the policy could add thousands of dollars in refundable deposits to the already high costs of U.S. touring — including flights, crew expenses, backline rental, and non-refundable visa application fees.
For smaller acts without major label or promoter backing, the bond could make U.S. performances financially unviable. Larger acts may be able to absorb the cost, but independent artists could be forced to cancel or avoid booking U.S. dates altogether.
Bands and booking agents will need to monitor official U.S. government updates closely to determine if they fall under the affected categories — and to plan tour budgets accordingly.
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