The United States has significantly expanded its controversial Visa Bond Pilot Program, tightening entry rules for visitors from 38 countries and placing a refundable cash bond at the center of its compliance strategy for short-term travel. Under the updated framework, foreign nationals from select countries applying for B1/B2 business or tourist visas may now be required to deposit $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 before entering the US. The State Department’s revised country list, issued on January 8, 2026, expands the program far beyond the initial 13 countries covered when the pilot launched in August 2025. From January 21, 2026, citizens of 25 additional countries will be included, with Bangladesh, Nepal, and Nigeria among the most closely watched additions, while Bhutan had earlier drawn attention due to its high visa-overstay rates.
Introduced during the Trump administration, the Visa Bond Pilot Program is intended to deter visa overstays by imposing a monetary liability on travelers from countries with high overstay rates or those offering citizenship-by-investment schemes. The pilot began on August 20, 2025, and is set to run until August 5, 2026. With the latest expansion, the program now covers 38 countries, making it one of the most far-reaching US visitor visa compliance measures in recent years. Visa overstay assessments are based on B1/B2 overstay rates published in the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report, with the legal framework anchored in INA Section 221(g)(3) and the Temporary Final Rule governing the pilot.
The bond requirement applies to citizens or nationals of listed countries who are otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa. Being eligible for a visa does not exempt an applicant from posting a bond if directed. The bond amount—$5,000, $10,000, or $15,000—is determined during the visa interview based on a risk assessment by the consular officer. The State Department has stressed that paying a bond does not guarantee visa issuance and applicants should only make payments when explicitly instructed by a consular officer.
Applicants must submit Form I-352 (Immigration Bond) only after being directed to do so, and payment is to be made exclusively through Pay.gov, the official US government electronic payment portal. Payments made through third-party websites or agents are not recognized and will not be the responsibility of the US government. Travelers must also enter and exit the United States through designated ports of entry. Violating this requirement could result in denied entry or an exit that is not properly recorded, potentially breaching the bond. Designated ports currently include Boston Logan, John F. Kennedy, Washington Dulles, Newark Liberty, Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, Toronto Pearson, and Montréal-Trudeau, with additional ports to be added on a rolling basis.
The bond is automatically refunded if the traveler leaves the US on or before the authorized stay period, does not enter the US before the visa expires, or is denied admission at a US port of entry. However, cases where the bond terms may have been breached, such as overstaying, failing to depart, or applying to adjust status or claim asylum, will be referred by DHS to USCIS for determination.
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