US Visa Bond Countries 2026: Full List, Amounts, and How to Pay

Last verified October 14, 2026. The list has changed several times since August 2025, so confirm it against the State Department's own page before you act.

If you hold a passport from certain countries and you're applying for a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa, the US may require you to post a refundable cash bond before the visa is issued. The program began in August 2025 with two countries. By April 2026 it covered fifty, and in August 2026 it became permanent.

The confusing part is that almost every article on this topic quotes a different list, a different amount, or a different date. That's because the rules changed more than once in a year. This guide gives you the full list with each country's effective date, explains what the bond costs now versus what you'll still see quoted, walks through how payment works, and tells you when the money comes back.

It covers B-1/B-2 visas only. Student, exchange, and work visas are not part of this program.

The Short Version

The Full List: 50 Countries and When Each Was Added

The State Department's Countries Subject to Visa Bonds page lists each country with its implementation date. The program grew in five steps:

Here is the complete list in alphabetical order:

The twelve April additions were announced on March 18, 2026, according to law-firm summaries from Ogletree and BAL. The State Department selects countries based on B-1/B-2 overstay rates in the Department of Homeland Security's Entry/Exit Overstay Report.

Is Your Country on the List?

Check the table above, but keep three points in mind.

It follows your passport, not where you live. The State Department says the requirement applies to any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by a listed country, and that it applies regardless of place of application. Applying at an embassy in another country doesn't avoid it.

Some large countries aren't on it. India, Pakistan, Ghana and Kenya do not appear on the list. If you're following our country guides, that means the bond doesn't apply to applicants in India, Ghana or Kenya, but it does apply to Nepal.

The list can change. It has grown at least four times in a year. Check the State Department's page close to your appointment, not just this article.

How Much Is the Bond?

This is the most inconsistent part of what you'll read online, so here is the sequence.

Many articles still say "up to $15,000." That was the pilot's ceiling, and the State Department itself used that figure when it announced the March 2026 expansion. The permanent rule raised it to $20,000, as reported by the Kathmandu Post and reflected in the State Department's list page. We explain how this played out for one affected country in our guide to the Nepal visa bond.

Two points apply either way. There is no published formula, so the amount is the officer's decision at the interview. And the bond is separate from, and in addition to, the standard visa application fee.

How Payment Works, Step by Step

1. You attend your B-1/B-2 interview like any other applicant.

2. The officer decides you are otherwise eligible for the visa. The bond comes only after that. It isn't a penalty for a weak case, and it doesn't replace the usual ties-to-home and non-immigrant intent requirements.

3. The officer tells you whether a bond applies and the amount.

4. You submit Form I-352, the Department of Homeland Security's immigration bond form, only after the officer directs you to.

5. You agree to the bond terms and pay through Pay.gov, the Treasury Department's payment platform, using the direct link you're given.

6. The visa is issued after the bond is posted.

The State Department's warning is blunt: do not use any third-party website to post the bond, and the US government is not responsible for money paid outside its systems. If you pay fees without a consular officer's direction, they will not be returned. The current page also states that someone else, such as a relative, can pay on your behalf as long as the name on the payment matches the obligor on Form I-352, and that payment is in US dollars. Confirm those details on the live page before you pay.

The Ports-of-Entry Rule Most People Miss

A bond comes with a travel condition. All visa holders who post a bond must enter and exit the United States through designated ports of entry, and not doing so can lead to denied entry or a departure that isn't properly recorded.

The list started with three airports: Boston Logan, New York JFK and Washington Dulles. On March 18, 2026, the State Department expanded it to include all commercial airports, including CBP preclearance locations, as noted by BAL. In practice, that means flying commercially. If you were planning to arrive by land or sea, or on a private or charter flight, check the current requirement first.

Getting Your Money Back

The bond is refundable. According to the State Department, it is canceled and returned automatically in these situations:

• The Department of Homeland Security records your departure from the US on or before the date you were authorized to stay

• You never travel to the US before your visa expires

• You apply for admission and are denied entry at the port of entry

The current page describes a few more specific cases, so read it for the full list.

What counts as a breach. DHS sends cases where you may have broken the terms to USCIS for review. The State Department's examples include departing after your authorized stay ended, staying past your authorized stay, and applying to adjust out of nonimmigrant status, which includes claiming asylum.

What this means practically. Keep your own records. Save your boarding passes, your passport stamps, and your I-94 arrival record, so that if a departure is ever recorded incorrectly you can prove when you left. The most reliable way to get the bond back is the simplest one: leave before your authorized stay ends.

What Early Results Show

When the State Department announced the March expansion, an official said that about 1,000 visas had been issued under the program and that 97 percent of people who posted bonds had returned home on time, as reported by The Hill. Those are the Department's own figures from the pilot's early period, not independent data, so treat them as the stated rationale rather than a verified outcome.

Two Things to Check Alongside the Bond

Other entry restrictions. A number of countries on the bond list also appear on the State Department's separate list of countries subject to full or partial visa suspension under Presidential Proclamation 10998, most recently updated on February 2, 2026. If your visa category is suspended, the bond question is secondary. Check the State Department's suspension page for your country.

Renewals and interview waivers. If you're renewing a B visa and hoped to skip the interview, remember that the bond amount is set at the time of the interview. The State Department's notices don't spell out how bonds interact with waiver renewals, so ask your embassy. Our guide to interview waivers explains who still qualifies.

Common Mistakes

• Paying before the officer directs you to. Money paid without direction is not returned.

• Using a third-party website or agent. The only legitimate payment route is the Pay.gov link the officer provides. Our guide to appointment scams covers how to spot scams.

• Assuming the bond means the case is weak. It applies after eligibility is decided.

• Planning to arrive or leave through the wrong port. The designated-ports condition is part of the bond.

• Relying on an outdated amount. "Up to $15,000" was the pilot ceiling, and the permanent rule goes to $20,000.

• Overstaying by "just a few days." Staying past your authorized period is a listed breach.

Do's and Don'ts

Do's:

• Check the State Department's list close to your interview date

• Budget for the possibility of the highest tier

• Pay only through the Pay.gov link your officer gives you

• Keep proof of departure

• Prepare for the interview as seriously as you would without a bond

Don'ts:

• Pay any website before your interview

• Assume applying in another country avoids the bond

• Treat the bond as a replacement for strong ties and a clear purpose of travel

• Stay past your authorized period

The visa bond list looks like a lot of detail, but the practical picture is simple. If your passport is on the list of 50, expect that a successful B-1/B-2 interview may end with a request for a bond of $10,000 to $20,000, set by the officer, paid only through Pay.gov, and refunded when you comply with your visa terms. Nothing about the bond changes what the interview is testing. You still have to show a genuine reason to visit and strong reasons to return. The bond is what follows once you do. Check the current list, plan for the possibility, protect yourself from payment scams, and keep your attention on the part you control, which is how clearly you can explain your trip.

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and is not legal or immigration advice. Visa decisions are made solely by U.S. consular officers based on your individual circumstances and applicable U.S. immigration laws and policies. While we strive to keep our content accurate and up to date, requirements and procedures may change. Always refer to official U.S. government resources for the latest guidance.