The United States has expanded a visa bond pilot program that will require eligible short-term visitors from dozens of countries to post a financial bond before travelling, with implementation dates ranging from October 2025 to January 2026. In an update issued on January 8, 2026, the Department of State said the measure applies to certain nationals seeking B1/B2 visitor visas and is designed to address visa overstay rates identified by the Department of Homeland Security.
Under the program, applicants who are otherwise eligible for a visitor visa may be instructed by a consular officer to post a bond of US$5,000, US$10,000 or US$15,000, with the amount determined at the visa interview. The requirement is set out under section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and a temporary final rule establishing the pilot. Officials have stressed that posting a bond does not guarantee visa issuance.
Countries affected by the measure span several continents. In Africa, nationals of Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, the Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe are included, with start dates varying between August 2025 and January 2026.
In Asia, the policy applies to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
In North America and the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba and Dominica are listed, while Venezuela is the sole South American country named.
In Oceania, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are covered. No European countries are currently subject to the visa bond requirement.
Applicants directed to post a bond must submit the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and complete payment through the US Government’s official online platform, Pay.gov. Authorities have warned applicants not to use third-party websites, noting that the government is not responsible for money paid outside its systems and that fees paid without a consular officer’s direction will not be refunded.
As a condition of the bond, visa holders must enter and exit the United States through designated ports of entry, including major airports such as John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport, as well as selected Canadian airports, with additional locations to be added on a rolling basis. Failure to comply may result in refused entry or a departure that is not properly recorded.
The bond will be cancelled and refunded automatically if the traveller departs the United States on or before the authorised date, does not travel before the visa expires, or is denied admission at the port of entry. Cases where bond conditions may have been breached, including overstays or attempts to adjust status, will be referred to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for assessment.
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