The United States has expanded its visa bond programme for short-term business and tourist travellers, adding 12 more countries to the list of those affected under tighter entry screening rules. The latest update took effect on April 2, 2026, according to the US Department of State.
Under the policy, some applicants for B-1 and B-2 visas may be required to post a bond of 5,000 dollars, 10,000 dollars or 15,000 dollars before a visa is issued. The State Department said the amount is determined at the visa interview and that the requirement applies only when a consular officer directs the applicant to post the bond.
The 12 countries newly added are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia. The State Department’s current list shows that 50 countries are now subject to the visa bond programme. Nigeria is already on the list, with its effective date shown as January 21, 2026.
The State Department says the bonds are intended to address visa overstays and other immigration risk concerns. Travellers who leave the United States on time, do not travel before the visa expires, or are denied admission at the port of entry may have the bond cancelled and the money returned. Those who breach the conditions risk losing the funds.
The programme is part of a 12-month pilot announced through a temporary final rule published in August 2025. Under that rule, visa bonds may be imposed on B-1 and B-2 applicants from countries identified for high overstay rates, weak screening and vetting information, or citizenship-by-investment concerns in certain cases.
The State Department also said applicants told to post a bond must use Form I-352 and pay only through the official Pay.gov system after receiving instructions from a consular officer. It added that payment of a bond does not guarantee visa issuance.
The updated rules also impose travel conditions on affected visa holders. The State Department says visa bond holders must enter and leave the United States through commercial air ports of entry, including preclearance locations, and may not use charter air, general aviation, land or sea entry points.
The expansion reflects a broader tightening of non-immigrant visa screening under the Trump administration, with closer scrutiny of visitors, overstays and compliance records.
