Last checked against official sources: October 5, 2026
If you hold a passport from one of the countries on the US visa bond list, a tourist or business visa now may come with a large refundable deposit. The State Department ran a 12-month pilot from August 20, 2025. On August 3, 2026, a final rule made it a permanent visa bond program, with higher amounts and some new rules.
This guide covers who is affected, how much the bond is, how payment works, and what you have to do to get the money back.
The short version
- Who: Applicants for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visas who are nationals of a country on the State Department’s visa bond list. About 50 countries were on the list when the program became permanent.
- How much: Under the permanent rule, a consular officer can set the bond at $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000. $15,000 is the expected default. During the pilot, the amounts were $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000.
- When you pay: Only after the consular officer tells you a bond is required, during or after your interview. You pay through the US government’s Pay.gov system using DHS Form I-352.
- Getting it back: You get it back if you follow your visa terms. That means leaving on time, not working, not trying to change status, and entering and leaving by air as required. If you overstay by even one day, you can lose the whole amount.
Which countries are on the list?
The list changes over time. Countries can be added with at least 15 days’ notice and removed right away. When the program became permanent, countries on the pilot list moved over automatically.
As of the April 2, 2026 expansion, these 50 countries were covered:
Africa: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Asia and the Pacific: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Americas and Europe: Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, Georgia, Grenada, Nicaragua, Venezuela
Important: Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, India and the Philippines were not on this list. Check the current list on travel.state.gov before your interview, because it can change at short notice.
The State Department says it picks countries based on high overstay rates, weak information-sharing with the US, and problems with identity documents or screening. Countries in the Visa Waiver Program are excluded.
How the bond process works, step by step
- Apply for your B-1/B-2 visa as normal. Fill in the DS-160, pay the visa fee, and attend your interview. You don’t pay a bond in advance.
- The officer decides. If you’re eligible for a visa and your nationality is covered, the officer may require a bond and set the amount. Not everyone from a listed country will be asked for one.
- You get instructions. You’ll be told to submit Form I-352 (Immigration Bond) and pay through Pay.gov. Only use the link the consular section gives you. Never pay a “bond agent” who contacts you on WhatsApp or social media.
- The visa is issued after payment. If you decide not to pay, the visa isn’t issued. During the pilot, State Department data showed that almost half of applicants who were asked for a bond didn’t go ahead with payment.
- Travel and leave on time. Enter and leave through a commercial airport. Under the permanent rule, this includes preclearance locations. Land and sea crossings can’t be used.
- Refund. If you follow every condition, the bond is refunded to the original payment method. The permanent rule makes refunds automatic for travellers who comply. Refunds during the pilot usually took about 6–8 weeks.
What makes you lose the bond?
You can lose the full bond if you:
- Overstay your authorized period of admission, even by one day
- Work without authorization in the US
- Try to change or extend your status, for example to a student or employment visa. Under the permanent rule, USCIS may also treat the bond as a negative factor in these applications.
- Leave by land or sea instead of through a commercial airport
- File an asylum application (Form I-589). The final rule says the bond is forfeited in this case, whatever the merits of the claim.
What changed when the pilot became permanent?
| Pilot (Aug 2025 – Aug 2026) | Permanent program (from Aug 3, 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Bond amounts | $5,000 / $10,000 / $15,000 | $10,000 / $15,000 / $20,000 (default $15,000) |
| Entry/exit points | Only a short list of designated airports | Any commercial airport, including preclearance. No land or sea ports |
| Admission period | Often limited to 30 days | Normal B-1/B-2 admission periods, at CBP’s discretion |
| Visa validity | Often short | 3-month single entry, 3-month multiple entry, or up to 12-month multiple entry, depending on reciprocity |
| Refunds | Claimed after departure | Automatic for travellers who comply |
Reports on the final rule also said the State Department expected to extend bonds to F-1 students after a related DHS rule took effect. As of this writing, students should treat that as possible, not confirmed. Check your embassy’s page before your interview.
Practical tips if you’re from a listed country
- Budget for the worst case. Plan for $15,000 to $20,000 to be tied up for your whole trip plus a few weeks. Don’t borrow money you can’t afford to have locked away.
- Prepare for the interview the same way as before. Strong ties to your home country still matter, such as a job, family and property. A bond doesn’t replace a good interview. Our guide to US visa interview questions covers what officers usually ask.
- Book a flight that keeps the bond safe. Fly in and out of commercial airports. Don’t plan a road trip that ends with a land crossing into Canada or Mexico.
- Keep proof you left. Save your boarding passes and check your I-94 record on the CBP website after you leave.
- Watch for scams. Nobody can “waive” or “guarantee” a bond for a fee. Payment only goes through Pay.gov.
Frequently asked questions
Is the visa bond the same as the visa fee?
No. The visa application fee (MRV fee) and any visa integrity fee are separate, non-refundable charges. The bond is a refundable deposit on top of them.
Does every applicant from a listed country have to pay?
Not automatically. The consular officer decides case by case after deciding you otherwise qualify for the visa.
Does paying the bond guarantee a visa or entry?
No. You still need to qualify for the visa. A CBP officer at the airport still decides whether to let you into the US.
Does the bond apply to student or work visas?
The program covers B-1/B-2 visitor visas. Reports point to a possible future extension to F-1 students. Check official announcements.
How we researched this
This article is based on the State Department’s final rule published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2026 (“Visas: Visa Bond Program”), the August 2025 pilot rule, and law-firm summaries of the April 2026 country expansion. Bond amounts, country lists and conditions can change at short notice. Always confirm on travel.state.gov and your US embassy’s website before you apply.
One Visa Center is an information site, not a law firm, and this article is not legal advice. If you have a complex case, such as an earlier overstay or a pending petition, speak to a licensed US immigration attorney. Read how we research, fact-check and use AI tools in our Editorial Policy.
Related reading: ESTA and the Visa Waiver Program · F-1 visa denied under 214(b)
Get visa, passport, and travel-planning guides like this one sent straight to your inbox — plus first access to new country guides and scholarship roundups.
