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U.S. Visa Bond: Who Pays $10,000–$20,000 and Why

Since 3 August 2026, a consular officer can make a B-1/B-2 visa conditional on the applicant first posting a cash bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000. This page is written from the final rule itself — 91 FR 48757, Visas: Visa Bond Program — rather than from secondary summaries, because the secondary summaries mostly still describe the pilot.

What changed on 3 August 2026

A 12-month pilot ran from 20 August 2025 under a temporary final rule (90 FR, doc. 2025-14826). The August 2026 final rule ended the pilot and made the programme permanent, with no sunset date.

In the rule's own words:

Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers.

The statutory authority is INA §221(g)(3), which has permitted bonds on visitor visas for decades but was rarely used before 2025.

Who can be required to post a bond

Three conditions, all from the rule:

| Condition | Detail | | --- | --- | | Visa class | B-1 business visitor, B-2 tourist, or the combined B-1/B-2 only | | Nationality | Nationals of countries the Department of State has designated as "covered countries" | | Officer's decision | The bond is discretionary — the officer decides whether to require it and at which of the three amounts |

Everyone else — students, workers, exchange visitors, and B-1/B-2 applicants from non-covered countries — is outside the programme.

Which countries are covered

The rule deliberately does not list countries in its text. It states that covered countries are announced on travel.state.gov — the Department maintains the list at Countries Subject to Visa Bonds — and that the list:

may be modified on a rolling basis, with removal effective immediately upon the removal date.

The selection criteria are stated: countries with high visa overstay rates, and countries whose screening and vetting practices the Department considers deficient. A country can be added or dropped at any time, so the only reliable source for whether your nationality is currently covered is the Department's published list, not any third-party page — including this one.

How much the bond is

Exactly one of three figures, chosen by the officer:

  • $10,000
  • $15,000
  • $20,000

The pilot had capped bonds at $15,000; the permanent rule raised the ceiling to $20,000. Our earlier guides said "up to $15,000" — that was true under the pilot and is no longer accurate.

How the bond is posted and returned

  • The bond is posted on Form I-352 through the process the officer specifies, after the interview and before the visa is issued.
  • The visa is issued once the Department is notified that the funds have been successfully posted.
  • The bond is returned when you comply with its terms — chiefly, leaving the United States before your authorised stay ends.
  • The bond is breached and forfeited if you overstay, violate status, or otherwise fail to comply. The rule provides for the Department to be notified when a bonded visa holder breaches the terms.

What this means for your DS-160

Nothing on the DS-160 itself changes. But two things follow:

  1. Do not pay anything called a "visa bond" to anyone before a consular officer has personally told you to post one. Scam sites have already appeared offering to "arrange" or "pre-pay" bonds. There is no pre-payment. The bond is required, if at all, at the officer's decision after your interview.
  2. Budget for it if your nationality is covered. A $10,000–$20,000 bond is refundable, but it is real money tied up for the length of your trip and the processing time afterwards.

The bond is separate from, and in addition to, the visa application fee and any other charges — see how much a U.S. visa costs for the full picture.

Frequently asked questions

Is the visa bond refundable?

Yes, if you comply with its terms — principally departing the United States on time. It is forfeited if you overstay or violate status.

Does everyone from a covered country have to post a bond?

No. Being from a covered country makes you eligible to be bonded; whether you actually are is the consular officer's discretionary decision in your individual case.

Can I pay the visa bond in advance to speed things up?

No. There is no advance payment. A bond is required only if the officer decides to require one, and only after your interview. Any site offering to take a bond payment before that is not the government.

Does the visa bond apply to student or work visas?

No. The programme covers B-1, B-2 and B-1/B-2 visas only.

Where is the list of covered countries?

At Countries Subject to Visa Bonds on travel.state.gov, maintained by the Department of State. The rule text does not contain the list, and it can change on a rolling basis — check that page rather than a third-party copy.

Did the bond amount go up?

Yes. The pilot's ceiling was $15,000; the permanent rule's is $20,000, with $10,000 and $15,000 as the other two possible amounts.

Sources

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