America has revised the visa bond program where applicants from eligible fifty countries are required to deposit an amount of either $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 as refundable bond before being issued visitor visas B-1/B-2.
The updated list was posted by the US Department of State on October 2, 2026. The program is based on INA (Immigration and Nationality Act) section 221(g)(3) which created the permanent visa bond program through a final rule dated August 3, 2026.
US Visa Bond: How Does the $20,000 Deposit Rule Work?
The visa bond is an amount of money that may be requested from nationals of certain countries that appear on the list compiled by the State Department if they qualify for a B-1/B-2 visa.
This amount is either $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000; the exact amount depends on the interview with the visa officer. The bond is not the same as the visa application fee and does not guarantee the issue of the visa.
Do not pay the bond unless it is specifically instructed to do so by the US visa consular officer. If you need to provide a bond, you need to fill out the DHS Form I-352 and pay the amount through the Pay.gov website as per the instructions of the consular officer.
US Visa Bond for Indians: Is India on the Latest List?
No. India is not on the present US visa bond country list. This implies that those individuals who have an Indian passport do not need to pay a bond of anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000 due to their citizenship alone under the present program. Indian nationals are however expected to satisfy the usual criteria for the B-1/B-2 visa category. The State Department list can be revised, and hence, candidates are advised to check out the latest information.
US Visa Bond List: Which 50 Countries Are Affected?
The current list includes countries across South Asia, Africa, Asia and Central Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, and the Pacific region.
South Asia
The South Asian countries on the list are Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.
Africa
The African countries covered by the programme are Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and PrÃncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Asia and Central Asia
The list includes Cambodia, Georgia, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan from Asia and Central Asia.
Caribbean and Americas
The affected countries in the Caribbean and Americas are Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
Pacific
The Pacific countries on the list are Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
US Visa Bond Programme: Why Has the US Introduced the Requirement?
The bond is designed to induce covered travelers to adhere to their temporary visa condition and depart from the US as required. According to the State Department, the program is connected with the overstay rates of people holding B-1/B-2 visas among other considerations associated with visa holders. The list of such nations may vary, which implies that applicants should take into account the most recent instructions issued by the State Department.
