The United States is set to make its visa bond programme permanent from August 3, 2026, allowing consular officers to demand refundable deposits of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 from selected B-1/B-2 visa applicants. It covers business and tourism applicants from 50 countries, mostly in Africa. The State Department says the policy reduced overstays during its 2025-26 pilot. Critics say the refundable payment can still block families and small-business visitors. India is not on the current list, which may change.
Key Highlights
- The permanent programme is scheduled to begin on August 3, 2026.
- Eligible B-1/B-2 applicants may face bonds of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000.
- Fifty nationalities are currently covered, including Nigeria, Bangladesh, Nepal, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
- The money is refundable after compliant travel, but the bond earns no interest.
What Is Changing Under The Permanent Visa Bond Rule?
The new final rule replaces the one-year pilot launched in August 2025. It removes the earlier $5,000 option and raises the maximum deposit from $15,000 to $20,000. A consular officer first decides whether the applicant otherwise qualifies for the visa. The officer then sets the bond amount based on the individual case, unless a waiver applies.
This is not a new visa category, and paying does not guarantee approval. Normal visa fees and interviews still apply. Applicants should pay only after receiving an official instruction and payment link. The Federal Register visa bond rule says covered visas may be valid for three months or, where reciprocity permits, up to 12 months.
Which Countries Could Be Affected?
The current State Department list of visa bond countries contains 50 nations.
Africa accounts for 30: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The remaining countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cuba, Dominica, Fiji, Georgia, Grenada, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Venezuela.
India, China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and most major European markets are not currently listed. However, the rule permits additions or removals based on overstay levels, visa refusal patterns, identity records, document security, screening and information sharing.
The U.S. Embassy in Mongolia’s official X post previously warned applicants not to use third-party payment websites.
How Will Payment, Travel And Refund Rules Work?
After the interview, a covered applicant receives a direct government payment link and completes DHS Form I-352. The applicant, a relative, friend, or business associate may post the full bond in US dollars. The payer’s name must match the person recorded as the obligor.
Bonded travellers must enter and leave through commercial US airports, including approved CBP preclearance locations. Land borders, sea ports, charter flights, and general aviation cannot be used for the final recorded departure. Ignoring this condition could delay or prevent the refund.
The principal is normally returned to the original payment method when DHS records timely departure, when the person never travels before visa expiry, or when entry is refused. No interest is paid. Currency movements and bank charges may also reduce the amount received outside the United States. An overstay or another substantial breach can lead to forfeiture of the entire bond.
Why Is Washington Making The Policy Permanent?
The State Department says the pilot covered about 20,000 applications, far above its initial estimate of 2,000. Close to half did not produce a bond payment, while roughly $115 million was temporarily deposited. Visa issuance from listed countries fell 83% during the first ten months.
Officials also reported 45,488 overstays from those countries in fiscal year 2024, compared with fewer than 50 during the pilot’s first ten months. Those figures underpin the administration’s claim that bonds discourage overstaying. They also show the policy’s other effect: fewer people applied or completed the process.
The change arrives alongside tighter US visa checks. In March 2026, the State Department widened online-presence reviews for additional non-immigrant categories. For affected tourists and business visitors, the immediate issue is simpler. A visa trip may now require access to as much as $20,000 before flights or hotels are booked.
FAQS
Is The US Visa Bond An Extra Visa Fee?
No, it is a refundable deposit, separate from standard application and possible issuance fees entirely.
Are Indian Travellers Required To Pay The Bond?
No, Indian passport holders are not included on the current list of fifty covered countries.
Does Paying The Bond Guarantee A US Visa?
No, payment follows an eligibility decision and does not remove other legal or security checks.
Can A Relative Or Employer Pay The Bond?
Yes, a third party may pay, but their name must match the registered obligor exactly.
When Will The Visa Bond Money Be Refunded?
It is returned after recorded compliant departure, non-travel before expiry, or official refusal at entry.
