Visa bonds now affect otherwise eligible B-1 and B-2 visitor visa applicants who are nationals of 50 countries listed by the U.S. Department of State.
The State Department’s page explaining visa bonds, updated October 2, 2026, identifies the countries subject to the requirement and explains how applicants must pay, travel and preserve their eligibility for a refund.
The program is authorized under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and was made permanent by a final rule effective August 3, 2026.
Table of Contents
Which countries are subject to visa bonds?
The Department of State’s list contains 50 countries whose nationals may be required to post visa bonds before receiving a B-1 or B-2 visa.
The listed countries are Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, the Kyrgyz Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The implementation dates shown by the department range from August 20, 2025, to April 2, 2026, meaning the listed requirements are already active as of October 2, 2026.
The order in which countries appear on the government page does not indicate priority or severity, and the department says the list may be amended.
Who must post visa bonds?
The visa bonds requirement applies to a citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of the listed countries who is otherwise found eligible for a B-1 or B-2 visa.
A B-1 visa generally covers temporary business travel, while a B-2 visa generally covers tourism, visits and certain other temporary activities.
A visa bond is a condition of visa issuance, not a substitute for meeting the ordinary requirements for a visitor visa.
An applicant must still establish eligibility under U.S. immigration law, and paying the bond does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.
The final rule limits the permanent program to covered B-1 and B-2 applicants from countries identified by the department based on factors that can include overstay rates, information sharing, screening and vetting, identity and criminal-record information, and the security of travel documents.
How much are visa bonds?
The required amount for visa bonds is $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000.
A consular officer determines the amount during the visa process, based on the applicant’s circumstances and the conditions needed to support timely departure from the United States.
The final rule says officers generally are expected to set the bond at $15,000 unless the applicant’s circumstances support a lower or higher amount.
The bond must be paid in U.S. dollars, and the person who pays it is responsible for exchange-rate changes and any payment-related costs charged by a financial institution.
The final rule provides for future inflation adjustments to the maximum amount beginning October 1, 2027, and every seven years afterward.
Visa bonds require consular instructions
Applicants should not independently submit Form I-352 or send money before a consular officer directs them to do so.
After determining that a bond is required, the consular officer will provide instructions for completing DHS Form I-352 and a direct payment link for the Treasury Department’s Pay.gov platform.
The name of the person listed as the obligor on Form I-352 must match the name of the person who makes the payment.
A friend, family member or business associate may pay the bond for the applicant, including someone located outside the applicant’s home country.
The State Department warns applicants not to use websites or payment links that are not specifically identified in the instructions from the consular officer.
Money paid without a consular officer’s direction will not be returned, according to the department.
Visa bonds impose special travel rules
Applicants who receive a visa after posting a bond must enter and leave the United States through designated commercial air ports of entry.
The requirement includes commercial airports with U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities.
Bonded visa holders may not use charter aircraft, general aviation, land ports or seaports of entry under the current instructions.
Using an unauthorized route could result in denied entry or a departure that is not properly recorded in government systems.
Travelers should therefore confirm that every planned arrival and departure uses a qualifying commercial-air route before purchasing tickets.
When are visa bonds returned?
The visa bond is generally canceled and returned automatically when government records show that the visa holder complied with the bond and visa conditions.
One qualifying situation occurs when the visa expires before the holder travels to the United States.
Another occurs when the visa expires while the holder is outside the United States, the traveler departed through a commercial air port and all visa terms were followed.
The bond may also be returned when the visa expires during a lawful stay and the holder leaves on time through a commercial air port.
Other listed situations include a timely departure before the end of an approved extension of stay or change of status, and a finding by CBP that the traveler is inadmissible followed by cancellation of the visa at the port of entry.
The person who posted the bond is the person who receives the refund if the bond terms were not breached.
Refunds are made in U.S. dollars, even when the original payment involved currency conversion or banking costs.
What can breach visa bonds?
The State Department says the Department of Homeland Security may refer suspected violations to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for a determination of whether a breach occurred.
Potential breaches of visa bonds include a substantial violation of a condition listed on the bond form.
They may also include remaining in the United States beyond the authorized admission period, failing to depart within the required time after a properly filed extension or change-of-status request is denied, or filing an untimely request to extend status.
The department also lists filing Form I-589 for asylum or another form of humanitarian protection among potential bond breaches.
That description identifies a possible compliance issue under the bond program and does not by itself establish that every humanitarian-protection filing will result in a breach determination.
Applicants should review the exact terms on Form I-352 and obtain qualified legal advice before making decisions involving an extension, change of status or humanitarian protection.
What applicants should do about visa bonds
Check the Department of State’s current countries-subject-to-visa-bonds page before the visa interview because the list may change.
Attend the visa interview and wait for direct instructions from the consular officer before submitting Form I-352 or paying any bond.
Use only the official Pay.gov payment link supplied through the consular instructions.
Ensure the obligor’s name on Form I-352 exactly matches the name of the person making the payment.
Plan both entry and exit through an eligible commercial air port of entry, including any applicable preclearance location.
Keep records of the visa, admission period, departure and any approved extension or change of status.
The visa bond program adds a substantial financial condition to visitor visa processing for nationals of the listed countries, but the bond remains only one part of the broader visa adjudication process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a U.S. visa bond?
A U.S. visa bond is a financial deposit that may be required before issuance of an otherwise eligible B-1 or B-2 visitor visa for nationals of countries listed by the Department of State.
How much is the visa bond?
The bond amount is $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, with the specific amount determined by a consular officer during the visa process.
Does paying a visa bond guarantee approval?
No. The Department of State says paying a bond does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.
How do applicants pay the visa bond?
Applicants must wait for instructions from a consular officer, complete DHS Form I-352 as directed and use the official Pay.gov payment link provided in those instructions.
Can visa bond holders enter through a land border or seaport?
No. Under the current instructions, visa bond holders must enter and exit through designated commercial air ports, including CBP preclearance locations.
When is a visa bond refunded?
The bond may be canceled and returned when the traveler meets the listed conditions, including timely departure through a qualifying commercial air port and compliance with visa and bond terms.
Fact-Checked: This report was checked against the U.S. Department of State page updated October 2, 2026, and the August 3, 2026 Federal Register final rule establishing the permanent visa bond program.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Applicants should follow their consular instructions and consult a qualified immigration attorney about individual circumstances.
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