The U.S. government has permanently expanded a visa policy that could require certain international travelers to pay a refundable bond of up to $20,000 before receiving a visitor visa.
Effective August 3, the U.S. Department of State will require some applicants for B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas from 50 designated countries to post a visa bond as a condition of visa issuance. Officials say the program is intended to reduce visa overstays and encourage travelers to leave the United States before their authorized stay expires.
The visa bond program was first launched as a temporary pilot in 2025. Under the new permanent rule, the previous $5,000 minimum bond option has been eliminated, while the maximum bond has increased from $15,000 to $20,000. The amount required will be determined on a case-by-case basis by U.S. consular officers.
The State Department says the bond is refundable. Travelers who comply with the terms of their visa and leave the United States on time, or applicants whose visa requests are denied, can generally receive their money back.
The policy applies only to designated countries identified by the U.S. government based on factors such as visa overstay rates and immigration trends. The current list includes 50 countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America, including Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
U.S. officials say the list of affected countries may be updated over time, with additional countries added or removed depending on future immigration data and visa compliance rates.
The State Department says the goal of the policy is to strengthen compliance with U.S. immigration laws while maintaining legal pathways for business and tourism travel. The rule does not apply to all visa applicants but only to those selected under the program’s eligibility criteria.
