With the U.S. Department of State set to launch a visa bond pilot program on Aug. 20, Senator Jesse Lujan is pressing federal officials to shield Guam from potential economic fallout if the initiative is extended to Philippine travelers. The program, initially targeting visitors from Zambia and Malawi holding B-1 and B-2 visas, requires a refundable bond of up to $15,000 to address visa overstays. Lujan, chairman of the 38th Guam Legislature’s Committee on Tourism and Federal Affairs, warned the policy could dampen visitor numbers from the Philippines — a market he says is critical to the island’s tourism recovery.
In letters sent Friday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Lujan requested that Guam be exempted from the bond requirement should it be applied to Philippine nationals. He also reiterated his longstanding push to include the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, arguing that the move would bolster arrival numbers, particularly as arrivals from Japan and Korea remain at less than half pre-pandemic levels. “It is critical that additional barriers not be placed to make travel into Guam more challenging,” Lujan said.
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s FY 2023 Entry/Exit Overstay Report, Philippine nationals had a 3.11% overstay rate in the contiguous United States — a figure Lujan said is low by global standards and even lower in Guam. He emphasized that Guam’s position outside the U.S. Customs Zone means all travelers must clear CBP before entering the mainland, reducing risks of illegal entry. Lujan also encouraged federal agencies to establish formal consultation channels with local stakeholders before implementing policies that could disproportionately affect Guam.
Lujan stressed that the Philippines’ inclusion in the visa waiver program could help fill hotel rooms, revive shuttered businesses, and rebuild the island’s tourism industry. “Our work has only started, and while we understand the current climate on immigration on a national front, we will continue to advocate and educate, so we can eventually see this into fruition,” he said. “It won’t be easy, but it needs to be done.”