U.S. Visa Bond Program Is Now Permanent, With Bonds Up to $20,000

UPDATE: On August 3, 2026, the State Department published a final rule that makes the visa bond program permanent, ending the one-year pilot and raising the bonds some travelers must pay.

Consular officers can still require B-1/B-2 visa applicants from certain countries to post a refundable bond before they get a visa, but the bond tiers are now $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000, up from $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 under the pilot.

The final rule also states that filing for asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) now costs the bonded traveler the full amount, regardless of the outcome of that claim.

In a significant policy shift aimed at curbing visa overstays, the U.S. Department of State has made permanent its program requiring certain B-1/B-2 visa applicants, those traveling for tourism or short-term business, from designated countries to post a refundable bond.

The program, which began as a one-year pilot on August 20, 2025, is now a standing part of the B-1/B-2 visa process with no built-in end date. Consular officers retain the authority to impose the bond requirement based on an applicant’s nationality and individual circumstances.

Who could be affected by the visa bond program?

The program targets nationals from countries with high overstay rates, limited vetting infrastructure, or citizenship-by-investment programs that don’t require physical residence.

As of the State Department’s most recent update, 50 countries are designated under the program:

• Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Cote 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The full list is revised on a rolling basis, and the State Department must give at least 15 days’ notice before adding a country. Travelers should always confirm their country’s status on the official visa bonds page before applying.

How does the visa bond program work?

Under the permanent program, consular officers have three bond tiers to choose from — $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 — depending on the applicant’s perceived risk level, with $15,000 as the expected default. If the bond is required and the visa is otherwise approved, the applicant must submit payment via Pay.gov before the visa is issued.

Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar says not every applicant from the same country will be asked to pay the same amount. “Officers assess each case and decide how much someone must post if they want the visa,” she says. “If they depart the country within the period of authorized stay, they can request the money back. If they overstay, even by a few days, they can lose the money.”

Urizar also says the following scenarios can result in a lost bond:

• Filing to change or extend status (e.g., to a student or work visa) and receiving a denial, followed by failing to depart within 10 days
• Filing a timely change or extension request that is approved, but later scrutinized for signs of “preconceived intent” (i.e., applying for a tourist visa while intending to stay longer through another route).
• Filing an application for asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture. The final rule now makes this a mandatory forfeiture event, regardless of whether the claim succeeds.

In addition, travelers under a visa bond can only enter and exit the U.S. through commercial air ports of entry, which includes CBP preclearance locations. Land and sea crossings don’t qualify and can cost you the bond.

The State Department has also not outlined a formal process to apply for a visa bond waiver. As of now, only the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs can waive the requirement for an individual, a category of applicants, or an entire country.

What should B-1/B-2 travelers do now?

Given the non-refundable nature of visa application fees, Urizar recommends that B-1/B-2 travelers should confirm whether their country is subject to the bond rule.

“Those contemplating a status change after arrival, such as transitioning to a student or employment visa, should seek legal advice in advance to minimize risks tied to bond forfeiture,” she says. “We’re advising clients to document their travel purpose clearly, avoid making any sudden changes to their status without legal guidance, and keep records of all communications and filings. If you’re even considering a change of status down the line, talk to a lawyer before you apply for the visa, not after you land.”