U.S. State Department Makes Visa Bond Program Permanent, Imposing Up to $20,000 on Applicants from 50 Countries

Saturday 1 August 2026 11:44

The U.S. Department of State has decided to make its visa bond program a permanent measure, allowing for the imposition of a financial bond of up to $20,000 on applicants for certain types of visas from 50 countries, the majority of which are in Africa. The decision was detailed in a recent notice published in the Federal Register.

The program specifically applies to B-1 visas for business travel and B-2 visas for tourism. Under this measure, consular officers are authorized to require specific applicants to deposit a financial bond as a mandatory condition for visa issuance. The exact amount of the bond is determined at the officers' discretion, capped at a maximum limit of $20,000.