The United States (US) State Department has made its visa bond program permanent, requiring certain B-1 and B-2 visa applicants from 50 countries to post bonds of up to $20,000.
The new rules will take effect on August 3, 2026. B-1 and B-2 visas are issued for business and tourism travel.
Under the program, consular officers may require applicants to post a bond of $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 before a visa is issued.
The amount will depend on the applicant’s circumstances, although officers are generally expected to set the bond at $15,000.
The permanent program follows a one-year pilot launched in August 2025. Under the pilot, bond amounts were set at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The final rule removes the $5,000 option and raises the maximum amount to $20,000.
According to the State Department, the pilot allowed the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of the Treasury to assess whether the system could be managed effectively.
The department said the pilot produced enough data to show that visa bonds can help ensure compliance and reduce overstays among covered visa holders.
Applicants will follow the standard non-immigrant visa process by scheduling a consular appointment and paying the required fee.
If an applicant qualifies for a B visa but is subject to the bond requirement, the application will be temporarily refused until the bond is paid.
The applicant must then complete Form I-352 and submit the payment through the US Department of the Treasury’s online portal. The bond may be paid by the applicant or by a third party.
After the payment is confirmed, the consular officer will conduct a final review of the application.
Approved visas may allow single or multiple entries and may remain valid for three to 12 months, depending on the applicant’s nationality and applicable reciprocity rules.
Visa holders covered by the program must enter and leave the United States through a commercial airport or a US Customs and Border Protection preclearance location.
They must comply with all conditions of their immigration status and leave the country before their authorized stay expires.
Those seeking an extension of stay or a change of status must file a timely application with US Citizenship and Immigration Services. If USCIS denies the request, the visa holder must leave the United States within 10 days to avoid breaching the bond conditions.
The bond will generally be canceled and fully refunded if the visa holder follows all requirements and leaves the country on time. No interest will be paid on the refunded amount.
However, the US government may retain the full bond if the visa holder overstays, files a late extension or change-of-status request, fails to leave after a USCIS denial, or violates other bond conditions.
The State Department will continue to review the list of countries covered by the program. It will provide at least 15 days’ notice before adding a country, while removals will take effect immediately.
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