The United States will require some business and tourism visa applicants from 12 additional countries to post a refundable bond of up to $15,000 before they can receive a visa. This move expands a pilot program that already applies to travelers from dozens of other nations.
According to Reuters, the expanded rule takes effect on April 2, 2026, and applies to B-1 and B-2 visitor visas. The 12 newly added countries are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia.
The U.S. State Department’s official Countries Subject to Visa Bonds page lists those countries and shows April 2, 2026, as the implementation date. The department says covered nationals from the listed countries who are otherwise eligible for B-1 or B-2 visas must post a bond under the pilot program. Bond amounts can be set at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The department also says applicants should not make any payment unless a consular officer specifically instructs them to do so, and posting a bond does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.
Which Travelers Are Affected By The Expanded Visa Bond Policy
Reuters reported that the latest expansion adds 12 countries to a program that already covered 38 others, bringing the total to 50. The State Department says the policy applies to nationals traveling on passports from countries on its visa bond list and covers only B-1 and B-2 visas, which are used for short-term business and tourism travel.
The Federal Register notice that created the pilot program says the State Department identified covered countries using factors including high visa overstay rates, deficient screening and vetting information, and citizenship-by-investment programs that grant citizenship without a residency requirement. The same notice says the pilot took effect on August 20, 2025, and is scheduled to remain in place until August 5, 2026. Reuters also reported that a State Department official said the administration views the program as a way to discourage visa overstays.
How The US Visa Bond Works For B-1 And B-2 Applicants
The State Department says the bond is generally refundable if the traveler complies with the visa terms. That includes leaving the United States on or before the authorized departure date, deciding not to travel before the visa expires, or being denied admission at a port of entry.
The Federal Register notice says visas issued under the pilot program are valid for a single entry within 3 months of issuance. It also says that admission for travelers subject to the bond program is generally limited to designated commercial airports of entry, including preclearance locations. Reuters reported that U.S. officials say the policy has already helped reduce overstays.
