US Expands Visa Bond Program to 12 More Countries Starting April 2026

The United States will expand its visa bond programme from 2 April 2026, requiring some short-term visitors from twelve additional countries to pay a refundable deposit before travel.

The policy applies to applicants for B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas. Selected individuals may be required to pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, depending on an assessment made during their visa interview. The requirement is not universal; only applicants instructed by consular officers must provide the deposit. The bond is refunded if visa conditions are met.

The expansion increases the number of countries covered by the programme to fifty. The newly included countries are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia. US officials state that the policy is based on data indicating higher overstay rates among certain nationalities and say it has helped reduce such cases.

Strict procedures govern the scheme. Payments must be made through official channels using Form I-352 and the Pay.gov platform. Payments made through unauthorised third parties may be forfeited. Paying the bond does not guarantee visa approval, and applicants may still be refused.

Travellers subject to the bond must follow specific travel conditions. Entry and departure are limited to commercial airports, while land borders, sea routes, and private aircraft are not permitted. These restrictions are intended to support accurate tracking of departures, which is required for issuing refunds.

Refunds are issued automatically if travellers leave within the authorised period, do not use the visa, or are denied entry on arrival. The bond may be forfeited if a traveller overstays, departs late, or attempts to change immigration status, including applying for asylum. Decisions on forfeiture are subject to review by US authorities.