The United States has substantially expanded its Visa Bond Pilot Program, marking a major shift in how short-term visitors are regulated. Under the revised framework, travellers from 38 countries applying for B1/B2 business and tourist visas may now be required to post a refundable cash bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 before entering the country.
The move signals Washington’s tougher stance on visa compliance and overstay prevention, with financial liability emerging as a central enforcement tool for temporary visitors.
(What is the US visa bond programme?)
The Visa Bond Pilot Program was introduced under the administration of Donald Trump to curb visa overstays by travellers from countries identified as high-risk based on historical overstay data or the presence of citizenship-by-investment schemes.
The programme came into force on August 20, 2025, and is scheduled to remain operational until August 5, 2026. Initially, it applied to just 13 countries, but the latest expansion makes it one of the most extensive compliance measures ever applied to US visitor visas.
With the January 2026 update, the number of affected countries has increased to 38, significantly widening the programme’s reach.
The US State Department, in a notification issued on January 8, 2026, confirmed that 25 additional countries will be added to the programme from January 21, 2026.
Some of the most closely watched additions include:
Bangladesh
Nepal
Nigeria
Earlier, Bhutan had attracted scrutiny due to its high visa-overstay rate, which made it a notable inclusion even before the latest expansion.
Visa overstay assessments are based on B1/B2 overstay rates published in the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report, with the programme legally anchored in INA Section 221(g)(3) and governed by a Temporary Final Rule (TFR).
(Who does the bond apply to?)
The bond requirement applies to:
Citizens or nationals of listed countries
Travelling on passports issued by those countries
Who are otherwise found eligible for a B1/B2 visa
Importantly, eligibility for a visa does not guarantee exemption from the bond.
The bond amount—$5,000, $10,000, or $15,000—is decided only at the visa interview, following a risk assessment by the consular officer.
The State Department has clearly cautioned applicants:
“A bond does not guarantee visa issuance,”
Applicants have also been warned not to make any payment unless explicitly instructed by a US consular official.
(How the bond must be paid)
Applicants must submit Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 (Immigration Bond)
Only after receiving instructions from a consular officer
Payment must be made exclusively via Pay.gov, the US government’s official payment portal
US authorities have issued strong advisories against using:
Agents
Intermediaries
Unofficial websites
Any funds paid outside official US government systems will not be the responsibility of the US government.
(Entry and exit restrictions)
To comply with bond conditions, travellers must:
Enter and exit the US only through designated ports of entry
Ensure their departure is properly recorded
Failure to follow these conditions may result in:
Denied entry
Improper exit records
Possible bond forfeiture
Boston Logan (BOS) – August 20, 2025
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – August 20, 2025
Washington Dulles (IAD) – August 20, 2025
Newark Liberty (EWR) – January 1, 2026
Atlanta (ATL) – January 1, 2026
Chicago O’Hare (ORD) – January 1, 2026
Los Angeles (LAX) – January 1, 2026
Toronto Pearson (YYZ) – January 1, 2026
Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) – January 1, 2026
Additional ports will be added on a rolling basis, according to US authorities.
(When the bond is refunded, and when it isn’t)
The traveller leaves the US on or before the authorised stay
The traveller does not enter the US before the visa expires
The traveller is denied admission at a US port of entry
Cases involving:
Visa overstays
Failure to depart
Applications for status adjustment or asylum
will be referred by DHS to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for further determination.
US policymakers argue that visa overstays account for a significant share of undocumented migration, and financial bonds are seen as a deterrent mechanism that encourages timely departure without imposing blanket bans.
However, immigration experts warn that the policy could:
Increase travel costs
Affect tourism, business travel, and diaspora visits
Disproportionately impact travellers from developing economies
The expansion of the US Visa Bond Pilot Program represents a decisive shift toward financial enforcement of immigration compliance. By requiring B1/B2 visitors from 38 countries to post a refundable bond of up to $15,000, the US has significantly raised the stakes for short-term travel.
While the policy aims to reduce visa overstays and strengthen border oversight, it also introduces new financial and procedural hurdles for legitimate travellers. As the programme continues through August 2026, its effectiveness—and its broader impact on global mobility—will be closely watched by governments, travellers, and immigration analysts alike.