(UNITED STATES) — The U.S. Department of State expanded its Visa Bond Pilot Program for B-1/B-2 visitor visas, requiring nationals from 13 designated countries to post refundable bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 if a consular officer demands it at a visa interview.
The bond requirement applies only to new B-1 (business) or B-2 (pleasure) visa applications and leaves existing valid visas unaffected, the department said. Visa Waiver Program countries are excluded.
Seven countries were added on December 17, 2025, effective January 1, 2026, bringing the total to 13. Further expansions require at least 15 days’ notice.
The program, authorized under Immigration and Nationality Act Section 221(g)(3), began on August 20, 2025, and runs through approximately August 5, 2026. It targets countries with high B-1/B-2 overstay rates, weak identity vetting, or citizenship-by-investment programs without residency requirements.
Nationals from Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan became subject to the program on Jan. 1, 2026. The department listed Mali, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Tanzania as effective Oct. 23, 2025, with Gambia added on Oct. 11, 2025, and Malawi and Zambia included from Aug. 20, 2025.
Consular officers decide at the visa interview whether an applicant must post a bond, and at what amount—$5,000, $10,000, or $15,000—after weighing risk factors such as trip purpose, employment, and income. Not all applicants from the listed countries will be required to post one.
Applicants instructed to pay must submit DHS Form I-352 and use the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov system. The department said payment made before consular instructions does not guarantee visa issuance.
Visas issued under the bond program are typically single-entry and valid for use within 3 months. Stays are often limited, with the department citing examples such as 30 days, and the visas are annotated to note the bond.
The bonds are fully refundable if the holder departs on time, maintains status, or properly extends, the department said. They can be forfeited for overstays or other violations, with the funds held until the matter is resolved.
The bond requirement is separate from visa fees and can add costs and delays for travelers. Even applicants viewed as low-risk may face the requirement because of nationality, the department said.
Businesses seeking short-term visitors from the listed countries can face higher costs and scheduling complications, according to the department’s description of practical impacts. It said firms may consider alternatives such as regional hubs or remote participation.
The program does not apply to other visa categories such as F-1 student, H-1B work, or J-1 exchange visas. The State Department limited it to new B-1/B-2 applications.
Early estimates put the program’s scope at roughly 2,000 applicants annually, mainly from low-volume travel countries. The department framed the approach as targeted, with consular officers applying individualized screening within the nationalities covered.
Under the policy, the bond is tied to compliance, not to admission decisions at the U.S. border. Applicants must still qualify for a visa, and the department stressed that paying the bond after instruction does not by itself secure approval.
Applicants who receive a visa under the pilot can face stricter conditions than typical visitor visas, including single-entry issuance and a short window for use, the department said. Those constraints, coupled with the requirement to document compliance to secure refunds, can add administrative burdens on visitors and their hosts.
The department said the pilot’s country designations are based on factors including B-1/B-2 overstay rates, identity vetting concerns, and citizenship-by-investment programs lacking residency requirements. The department did not provide country-by-country overstay statistics in its description of the program.
With the Jan. 1, 2026 additions, the list now spans countries in Africa and Asia. The designated set includes Bhutan and Turkmenistan, along with Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, and Namibia, as well as Gambia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, and Zambia.
The department said the Visa Bond Pilot Program may extend beyond August 5, 2026, based on results. For travelers facing the new requirement, the stakes are clear: compliance can unlock refunds, but overstays or other violations can trigger forfeiture, with the bond held until resolution.
The U.S. State Department’s Visa Bond Pilot Program requires certain B-1/B-2 visa applicants from 13 countries to post refundable bonds between $5,000 and $15,000. Initiated to combat high overstay rates, the program affects countries like Bhutan, Guinea, and Zambia. Bonds are assessed during interviews and must be paid via Pay.gov. Funds are returned if travelers comply with all visa conditions and depart the U.S. on schedule.
