The US Department of State updated its Countries Subject to Visa Bonds list under the ongoing visa bond pilot program. The expansion adds dozens of countries whose nationals applying for B-1/B-2 visitor visas may be required to post a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 USD before visa issuance. The requirement is aimed at deterring visa overstays, with specific conditions and entry procedures for affected applicants.
Background
The visa bond pilot program, originally launched in August 2025, requires certain B-1/B-2 (business/tourism) visa applicants from designated countries to post a maintenance of status and departure bond as part of the application process. The program applies to nationals of countries identified by the Department of State based on factors including high overstay rates or visa screening concerns. The amount of the bond (i.e. $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 USD) is determined by the consular officer during the visa interview, and payment is made through the US Treasury’s Pay.gov platform via Form I-352. A bond does not guarantee visa issuance.
Expanded list of affected countries
The updated list, effective January 6 2026, now includes 38 countries with various implementation dates.
New additions with a January 21, 2026 effective date include Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.
Countries previously added with earlier implementation dates include Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, Turkmenistan, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Visa and entry conditions
Affected applicants must be found otherwise eligible for the B-1/B-2 visa before a bond is required, and may only enter and depart the United States through designated ports of entry (Boston Logan, JFK, or Washington Dulles) as part of bond compliance. Failure to depart in accordance with the visa terms may result in forfeiture of the bond.
Employers should review the updated list of countries subject to visa bonds to assess whether employee business travel to the United States may be impacted. Where applicable, employers should advise affected employees of the potential visa bond requirement for B-1/B-2 visa applications and consider the financial, timing, and travel planning implications, including designated ports of entry and compliance with departure requirements.
For more information, please refer to the Department of State website. Vialto will continue to monitor the impact of this policy change and provide further updates once they are available.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Manish Daftari
Partner
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