- Fiji is asking Washington to drop the visa bond for some short-term U.S. trips.
- The State Department made the bond rule permanent on August 3, 2026 for Fijian visitor visas.
- Three refundable tiers remain, while the US$5,000 option disappeared under the final rule.
Fiji is pressing Washington to drop the bond that now shadows some short-term U.S. trips, even after the State Department made the rule permanent on August 3, 2026. The requirement still sits in place for Fijian nationals seeking visitor visas. It did not lapse.
The final rule kept three refundable tiers and pushed out the smaller one. The old US$5,000 option disappeared when the program became permanent. The ceiling is higher now. That part stayed.
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Fiji entered the program on January 21, 2026, with Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Papua New Guinea also appears on the Pacific list. The test turns on passport nationality, not where someone lives. That is the trigger.
The requirement reaches temporary business and tourist travel. It sits inside the B-1 and B-2 categories. These are short trips. Not long stays.
Consular officers decide, case by case, whether to require payment. The final rule gives travelers no bond waiver application process. Refunds depend on compliance, and overstaying can cost the bond. No waiver exists.
Three refundable tiers remain after the permanent rule
| Tier | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| US$10,000 | Current | Refundable bond |
| US$15,000 | Current | Refundable bond |
| US$20,000 | Current ceiling | Refundable bond |
| US$5,000 | Removed | Dropped when the program became permanent |
The U.S. Department of State's final rule now covers nationals of 50 countries. The Pacific names on that list include Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The list reaches far beyond the region. It is much broader than one island group.
The list can still shrink immediately
The rule allows countries to come off on a rolling basis. When that happens, removal takes effect immediately. The exit door is built into the rule. It moves fast.
