The bottom line. The State Department made permanent its Visa Bond Program, requiring B-1/B-2 visa applicants from certain high-overstay countries to post bonds of $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance. The final rule takes effect August 3, 2026.
The State Department published a final rule on August 3, 2026, amending 22 CFR part 41 to establish a permanent Visa Bond Program under INA section 221(g)(3). The rule codifies a program first launched as a 12-month pilot on August 20, 2025.
The program applies to nationals of countries the Department identifies as having high overstay rates, deficient information sharing, insufficient identity verification and criminal records, or weaknesses in screening, vetting, and travel document security. During the pilot, 50 countries were designated, and the Department reported fewer than 50 overstays from those countries in the first 10 months, compared with 45,488 in fiscal year 2024.
"The bonds proved to be an effective tool for reducing overstays."
Who Is Covered
The program covers applicants for B-1 (business visitor), B-2 (tourist), or combined B-1/B-2 visas who are nationals of countries listed on the Department's website at travel.state.gov. Countries may be added with 15 days' notice; removals take effect immediately. Nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries are excluded. The Department said the program is a diplomatic tool to encourage foreign governments to reduce overstays and improve information sharing.
Bond Amounts and Payment
Consular officers will set the bond at $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 based on the applicant's individual circumstances, with $15,000 as the default. The maximum will adjust for inflation every seven years starting October 1, 2027, rounded up to the nearest $1,000. Applicants must pay the full bond electronically in U.S. dollars through a Treasury-operated payment platform; funds are held at a U.S. financial institution acting as a government agent.
Visa Conditions and Compliance
Visas issued under the program will be valid for a single entry or multiple entries within three to 12 months. Bonded travelers must enter and depart the United States through commercial airports, including CBP Preclearance locations; land and sea ports are not permitted. The bond is canceled when the visa expires or is canceled and the holder is not in the United States, or after timely departure, provided the holder substantially complied with all conditions. No interest accrues on bond deposits.
Bond Breach and Forfeiture
A bond is breached upon substantial violation of its terms, including remaining past the authorized period, filing an untimely change-of-status or extension request, failing to depart within 10 days of a denial, or filing for asylum or other humanitarian protection on Form I-589. DHS makes the final breach determination and notifies the obligor; breach determinations may be appealed under 8 CFR 103.3. The Department noted that filing a timely extension or change-of-status request does not itself breach the bond, but USCIS may treat the existence of a visa bond as a negative discretionary factor in adjudicating such requests.
Waivers
There is no application process for a bond waiver. The Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, or a designee, may waive the requirement for an alien, country, or category of aliens if the waiver is not contrary to the national interest. Consular officers may recommend waivers in limited circumstances, such as U.S. government employee travel or urgent humanitarian needs.
What This Means Right Now
B-1/B-2 applicants from countries on the Department's list will be denied under INA 221(g) until a bond is posted, after which the visa may be issued.
Bonded travelers must use commercial air ports of entry for both arrival and departure; failure to do so may constitute a breach.
Applicants who timely file for an extension or change of status and comply with all conditions are not in breach, but the bond may weigh against discretionary approval.
Bond funds are returned without interest upon compliance, subject to potential federal offset through the Treasury Offset Program.