The US visa bond program has been made permanent as of August 1, 2026. The program applies to applicants for B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas from 50 countries, requiring a refundable bond ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. This replaces the pilot program’s minimum bond of $5,000 and raises the maximum bond from $15,000 to $20,000.
Coverage, Pilot Results and Overstay Statistics
The 50 countries under the program include Bangladesh, Nepal, 30 African countries, and nations in Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Pakistan and India are excluded, while Afghanistan and Iran are not included due to the absence of normal diplomatic relations with the US.
The 2025 pilot program led to a significant decline in visa overstays, dropping from 45,488 in 2024 to fewer than 50 during the first 10 months of the pilot.
Visa Bond Terms and Traveler Impact
US consular officers maintain discretion to impose the visa bond requirement on a case-by-case basis rather than automatically for all applicants from covered countries. If required, applicants must deposit a refundable bond between $10,000 and $20,000. The bond is refunded only if the traveler complies with visa conditions and departs the US on time; failure to do so results in bond forfeiture. The program has led to reduced visa issuances as
some applicants opt not to pay the bond.
US State Department Rationale and Compliance Improvement
The US State Department cited the 2025 pilot program’s role in substantially reducing visa overstays and enhancing compliance with US immigration laws as the basis for making the visa bond program permanent. The agency views the bond mechanism as a tool to curb overstays and potential visa abuses among travelers from the selected countries.
