The State Department has made its visa bond program permanent, allowing certain business and tourist visa applicants from 50 countries to be required to post a refundable bond of up to $20,000. The change took effect on August 3, 2026, after a yearlong pilot focused on reducing visa overstays.
The permanent program applies to some applicants seeking B-1 business visitor visas, B-2 tourist visas, or combined B-1/B-2 visas. A consular officer may require an otherwise eligible applicant to post a maintenance of status and departure bond as a condition of visa issuance.
Under the final rule, bond amounts may be set at $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000, depending on the officer’s assessment. The previous $5,000 option has been removed, while the maximum has risen from $15,000 during the pilot to $20,000.
The bond is a financial guarantee rather than an additional visa application fee. It may be returned if the visa is denied or, after issuance, if the traveler follows the bond conditions and leaves the United States within the authorized period. Travelers should not submit a bond payment unless specifically instructed by a consular officer through the government’s official process.
The 50 listed countries are Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyz Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The State Department may revise the country list. Its selections have been based on factors including B-1/B-2 overstay rates, concerns about available screening and vetting information, and certain citizenship-by-investment programs.
The policy does not directly apply to F-1 student visas, J-1 exchange visitor visas, or employment categories such as H-1B. However, it may affect relatives, prospective business visitors, conference participants, or other travelers planning short visits to the United States from a listed country.
Posting a bond does not guarantee visa approval or admission at a U.S. port of entry. Applicants must still meet all eligibility requirements, and Customs and Border Protection determines admission and the authorized period of stay.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Applicants should review current State Department instructions before making travel or payment decisions.