The U.S. State Department has officially made its Visa Bond Program permanent. Effective August 3, 2026, consular officers may require applicants from 50 designated countries to post a refundable bond of $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 as a condition for receiving a B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourist) visa.
Key details:
- The bond is fully refundable (without interest) if the traveler complies with all visa conditions and leaves the United States on time through designated commercial airports.
- The full amount is forfeited if the person overstays, violates their status, or breaches other bond terms.
- Consular officers typically set the bond at $15,000, but can lower it to $10,000 or raise it to $20,000 based on the applicant’s individual circumstances (purpose of travel, income, ties to the U.S., etc.).
- The $5,000 option from the pilot program has been eliminated.
- The requirement applies to nationals of the 50 countries regardless of where they apply for the visa.
- The list of countries may be updated on a rolling basis (additions require at least 15 days’ notice).
Good news for Vietnamese citizens: Vietnam is not on the list of 50 countries. Vietnamese applicants for B-1/B-2 visas continue under the standard process and are not required to post this bond.
Current list of 50 countries subject to the visa bond: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Côte 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, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The program began as a 12-month pilot in August 2025. U.S. officials say the data showed a sharp drop in overstays, which is why it is now permanent.
If you or someone you know is planning to apply for a U.S. visitor visa, please check the official list on travel.state.gov and verify your nationality carefully.
Source: U.S. State Department / Federal Register (August 2026)
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