Overview
Beginning in 2026 the State Department will require travelers from dozens of countries to post sizable bond payments to obtain B1/B2 entry visas to the United States. The year-long visa bond pilot program, first announced in August 2025, requires tourists and business visitors from 38 countries to pay bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 to receive B1/B2 visas.
Pilot scope and timing
The pilot runs for 12 months and currently applies only to B1 (business) and B2 (tourism) visas; student and many other longer-term visa categories are excluded. The State Department may add or remove countries on a rolling basis; on January 21, 2026, it added 25 countries, more than doubling the original list.
Countries covered
As of January 21, 2026, the following 38 countries are subject to the visa bond requirement:
– Algeria
– Angola
– Antigua and Barbuda
– Bangladesh
– Benin
– Bhutan
– Botswana
– Burundi
– Cabo Verde
– Central African Republic
– Cote d’Ivoire
– Cuba
– Djibouti
– Dominica
– Fiji
– Gabon
– The Gambia
– Guinea
– Guinea Bissau
– Kyrgyz Republic
– Malawi
– Mauritania
– Namibia
– Nepal
– Nigeria
– Sao Tome and Principe
– Senegal
– Tajikistan
– Tanzania
– Togo
– Tonga
– Turkmenistan
– Tuvalu
– Uganda
– Vanuatu
– Venezuela
– Zambia
– Zimbabwe
Bond amounts and payment
Consular officers will determine the bond amount for each applicant. The minimum bond is $5,000 unless a waiver is granted; guidance advises setting bonds at $10,000 in most cases. Applicants may be required to post $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. After visa approval, applicants receive an email from the State Department with a link to pay via the U.S. Treasury’s pay.gov service.
Refunds and forfeiture
Applicants who travel to the U.S., comply with their visa terms, and depart before the visa expires will be automatically refunded the bond. Applicants who are denied a visa or who do not travel before their visa expires are also entitled to a refund. Travelers who overstay or otherwise breach visa conditions forfeit the bond; the Department of Homeland Security reported more than 500,000 visa overstays in 2023.
Designated ports of entry
Travelers required to post a bond must enter the U.S. through one of nine approved airports: Boston Logan (BOS), New York JFK (JFK), Washington Dulles (IAD), Newark Liberty (EWR), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Los Angeles International (LAX), Toronto Pearson (YYZ), and Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau (YUL). The two Canadian airports are included because they operate U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facilities, allowing immigration inspection before departure.
What to watch for
The list of covered countries may change as the State Department adjusts the pilot. Travelers from listed countries who plan to apply for a B1/B2 visa should check the latest guidance, be prepared for the bond requirement, and follow the payment instructions sent by the State Department after visa approval.
Note: This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.