Department of State adds several countries to visa bond list
The Department of State has added seven countries to the list of nations whose travelers are required to pay bonds before entering the U.S.
Effective January 1, tourist visa holders from the following nations must pay either a $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 fee:
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Central African Republic
- Guinea
- Guinea Bissau
- Namibia
- Turkmenistan
These countries were already subject to the State Department’s bond rule:
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Zambia
JANUARY 8, 2026 UPDATE: Starting January 21, those from the following countries will also fall under the visa bond rule:
- Algeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Kyrgyzstan
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Tajikistan
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Zimbabwe
A consular officer determines the bond amount during a foreign national’s visa interview. To pay, travelers must file Form I-352 only after being instructed to do so, then pay online at pay.gov. Fulfilling this requirement does not confirm a B-1/B-2 visa approval, and deposits made without consular instruction cannot be refunded.
These fees are part of the State Department’s Visa Bond Pilot Program, a temporary initiative effective until August 5, 2026. As a way to discourage overstays, B-1/B-2 travelers who do not breach their status will be refunded after returning to their home countries.
Travels restrictions for visa bond travelers
Those who pay a bond are also subject to additional travel restrictions. Once they obtained a visa, travelers are only allowed to enter the U.S. through the following airports:
- Boston Logan International Airport
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- John F. Kennedy International Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
- Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
- Newark Liberty International Airport
- Toronto Pearson International Airport
- Washington Dulles International Airport
According to the State Department’s notice, arrival through another location may result in a denial of entry or improperly recorded departure.
Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar says travelers from these countries should anticipate paying the bond, and stay proactive about the conditions in their visa. “Pay attention to your arrival and departure dates,” she says. “Don’t wait until the last day to leave the U.S., as any flight delays or cancellations could cause you to overstay and put your deposit at risk.”
