US expands visa bond requirement to 25 more countries

Nationals from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Nepal, and 22 other countries must now post a refundable bond of up to $15,000 to travel to the US on a B1/B2 visa

The United States has expanded its visa bond requirement to 25 additional countries as of January 21, 2026. Nationals from these countries must now post a refundable bond of up to $15,000 before traveling to the US on a B1/B2 visitor visa.

The bond requirement has already been in effect for several countries since October 2025. With today's expansion, 38 countries are now subject to the policy.

Countries added on Jan 21, 2026

According to the US Department of State's Travel.State.Gov website, the following 25 countries are now subject to the visa bond requirement:

Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.

How the visa bond works

The bond amount ranges from $5,000 to $15,000, determined by a consular officer at the time of the visa interview. Applicants who are found eligible for a B1/B2 visa will be informed of the bond requirement and given instructions on how to pay through the US Treasury's Pay.gov platform.

According to the Department of State:

"Applicants should submit Form I-352 to post a bond only after a consular officer directs them to do so. They must not use any third-party website for posting the bond. The US Government is not responsible for any money paid outside of its systems."

A bond does not guarantee visa issuance. If someone pays fees without a consular officer's direction, the fees will not be returned.

Required ports of entry

Travelers who post a visa bond must enter and exit the United States through designated airports only. Failure to do so could result in denied entry or an unrecorded departure.

The designated ports of entry are:

• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
• Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)

When the bond is returned

The bond is automatically canceled and refunded if:

• The traveler departs the US on or before their authorized stay date
• The traveler does not travel to the US before the visa expires
• The traveler is denied admission at the US port of entry

When the bond is forfeited

The bond may be forfeited if:

• The traveler departs after their authorized stay date
• The traveler overstays and does not leave
• The traveler applies to change their immigration status, including claiming asylum

Who is not affected

The bond requirement applies only to new B1/B2 visitor visas issued on or after the effective date. Travelers who already hold valid B1/B2 visas are not affected.

The requirement also does not apply to other visa categories, such as F-1 student visas or H-1B work visas. However, applicants for H-1B, F, M, or J visas must now set their social media accounts to public to facilitate identity vetting.