The US visa bond program now covers 50 countries, and India is not one of them. The State Department released a revised list on Friday, October 2, naming the nationalities whose passport holders may have to post a bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 before they get a tourist or business visa. A consular officer sets the exact amount at the visa interview. Indian passport holders are exempt, while three of India’s neighbours, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, are included. The department says the requirement applies to people who are otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, and paying a bond does not guarantee approval.
The change turns a limited pilot into a standing program. It operates under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and rests on a final rule issued on August 3, 2026, which uses B1/B2 overstay rates from the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report to decide which countries are listed. If you are an Indian traveller, you do not need a bond, but you should understand the rule if you travel with family or friends who hold other passports. This guide covers the full country list, who can pay, how refunds work and how to avoid scams. We’ll be updating this article monthly.
US Visa Bond Key Highlights
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announcement | Revised list released Friday, October 2, 2026 |
| Countries covered | 50 countries, per the State Department |
| Visa types | B1 business and B2 tourist visas |
| Bond amounts | $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, set by a consular officer at the interview |
| India | Exempt |
| South Asian countries covered | Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal |
| Legal basis | Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act |
| Final rule | August 3, 2026 |
| Form to post the bond | Form I-352, submitted only after a consular officer directs you to |
| Payment platform | Pay.gov, run by the US Treasury |
| Does a bond guarantee a visa? | No |
Is India on the US Visa Bond List?
No. India is not on the list, so Indian passport holders do not have to post a visa bond. The exemption applies only to the bond. Indian travellers still need to complete the visa application, attend an interview where required and meet the usual eligibility rules, including showing that they intend to return home.
The bond depends on the passport you hold, not where you live or where you are applying. An Indian citizen living in Nepal travels on an Indian passport and is not subject to the bond. A Nepali citizen living in India holds a Nepali passport and may be. Families with mixed nationalities should check each traveller’s passport separately.
India’s neighbours are not treated alike. Of the South Asian countries, only Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal appear on the list. Others in the region, such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Maldives, do not appear in the published list.
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Full List of Countries Subject to the US Visa Bond
The list below reproduces the countries and start dates as reported from the State Department’s published list. It contains 49 names, even though the program is described as covering 50 countries, so confirm the final entry on travel.state.gov.
| Start date | Countries |
|---|---|
| August 20, 2025 | Malawi, Zambia |
| October 11, 2025 | The Gambia |
| October 23, 2025 | Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania |
| January 1, 2026 | Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, Turkmenistan |
| January 21, 2026 | Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Fiji, Gabon, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe |
| April 2, 2026 | Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Tunisia |
The list includes countries across Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia and the Pacific, along with several in Asia. Bangladesh and Nepal have been covered since January 21, 2026, and Bhutan since January 1, 2026.
How Much Is the US Visa Bond? $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000
The bond comes in three tiers. The State Department says consular officers decide the amount during the visa interview. The agency has not published a formula, so applicants cannot predict which tier they will be assigned. The amounts are higher than in the early pilot, when bonds ranged from $5,000 up to $15,000, and the new top tier of $20,000 is the biggest change.
A bond is not a fee. It is a deposit that is refunded if you comply with the terms. It must be paid and refunded in US dollars, so whoever pays carries any exchange-rate risk if they use another currency. The calculator attached to this article includes a simple estimate of that swing.
Why the US Is Expanding the Visa Bond Program?
The State Department says the goal is to reduce overstays by people who enter on temporary business and tourist visas. It picks countries using B1/B2 overstay rates published in the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report. The logic is that a financial stake gives travellers a reason to leave on time, and gives the government a way to recover costs when they do not.
The program began as a pilot. It started on August 20, 2025 with Malawi and Zambia, added The Gambia in October, and grew quickly in early 2026. An earlier report put the list at 38 countries after the State Department added 25 in a week. The August 3, 2026 final rule made the program permanent under the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the October 2 release brought the count to 50.
Supporters say bonds are an effective and fair way to deter overstays without banning travel. Critics, including many immigration lawyers and travel groups, argue that the bonds are out of reach for many families, put a burden on people from poorer countries and rely on country level data that may not reflect an individual’s intentions. Both views are part of the public record, and the debate is likely to continue as the list grows.
How to Pay the US Visa Bond?
The process comes after the visa interview, not before. The State Department warns applicants not to pay early.
- Apply for a B1/B2 visa and attend your interview.
- If the consular officer finds you otherwise eligible and decides a bond is required, the officer will tell you the amount and give instructions.
- Only then submit Form I-352, the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration Bond form.
- Accept the bond terms and pay through Pay.gov, the US Treasury’s online payment platform.
- Keep your receipt and bond confirmation. You will need them for the refund.
If you pay without being directed by a consular officer, you will not receive a refund. That is the single most important warning in the guidance.
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Who Can Pay the Visa Bond?
The applicant can pay, or a third party can, including a friend, relative or business associate. The payer can live inside or outside the applicant’s home country. The person named as the obligor on Form I-352 is the one who gets the refund when the conditions are met, and the name on the form must match the name of the person making the payment. That matters for families, because the refund goes to the payer, not necessarily to the traveller.
Visa Bond Refund Rules: When You Get Your Money Back
The bond is cancelled and refunded automatically in several situations.
| Situation | Result |
|---|---|
| The visa expires and the holder never traveled to the US | Bond cancelled and refunded |
| The holder leaves through a commercial airport and complies with visa conditions, then the visa expires | Bond cancelled and refunded |
| The holder leaves the US on time after the visa expires during a lawful stay | Bond cancelled and refunded |
| Customs and Border Protection finds the traveller inadmissible and cancels the visa at the port of entry | Bond cancelled and refunded |
| The holder leaves on time before the end of an approved extension of stay or change of status | Bond cancelled and refunded |
What Counts as a Visa Bond Breach?
The Department of Homeland Security sends suspected violations to US Citizenship and Immigration Services for review. A breach can include overstaying, violating the conditions on the bond, filing a late request for an extension or a change of status, or applying for asylum or other humanitarian protection on Form I-589. Overstays are recorded when DHS records show that the traveller departed after the authorized stay ended, or did not leave at all.
If a breach is found, the government can keep the bond. Because the stakes are high, travellers with a bond should leave on time, file any extension request well before the deadline and speak to an immigration lawyer if their plans change.
Special Travel Rules for People Who Post a Visa Bond
Visa bond holders face restrictions on how they enter and leave. They must use commercial air ports of entry, which include Customs and Border Protection preclearance locations. They cannot use charter flights, general aviation, land borders or seaports, either to enter or to depart. Failure to use a designated port can result in denied entry or an improperly recorded departure, which could jeopardize the refund.
For travellers from places like Nepal or Bangladesh, this rules out crossing from Canada or Mexico by road, and it means planning flights carefully. Preclearance airports, which are in Canada, Ireland and several other countries, count as commercial ports of entry for this purpose.
US Visa Bond Calculator: Check Your Passport and Estimate the Cost
The calculator attached to this article answers two questions. First, is your passport country on the list? Choose a country from the dropdown, which shows the reported start date for each. If you choose India, the tool confirms the exemption. If you choose a country that is not in the dropdown, it reminds you that the list has a reported count of 49 names against 50 countries, so you should confirm the final entry on the State Department site.
Second, what could the deposit cost you? Pick a bond amount, set how many months you expect the money to be held, enter the return you could earn elsewhere and a possible currency swing. For example, a $15,000 bond held for eight months with a 5% alternative return has an opportunity cost of about $500, and a 5% swing in the exchange rate moves the cost of the deposit by about $750 either way. The refund is of the dollar amount, so the opportunity cost and exchange swing are costs even if the bond is returned in full.
US Visa Bond Checker and Cost Calculator
Check whether a passport is on the State Department’s visa bond list for B1/B2 visas, then estimate what tying up the deposit could cost.
Based on the State Department list released October 2, 2026, as reported. The consular officer sets the bond at the interview, and you should pay only after being told to. Paying does not guarantee a visa. Check travel.state.gov for the latest list. This is general information, not legal advice.
Processing Time: How Long Does the Visa Bond Add?
The bond comes after the interview, so it adds a step between approval and visa issuance. The State Department has not published a processing time for bond acceptance, and it says paying does not guarantee a visa. Plan for extra days, and in some cases weeks, between the interview, the bond payment and the printing of the visa. Check your application status on the State Department’s visa status page and follow the instructions the officer gives you.
Refund timing is also not stated. Because the bond is cancelled and refunded after the conditions are met, expect a wait after your departure is recorded.
Payment Schedule: Rollout Timeline of the Visa Bond Program
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 20, 2025 | Pilot begins with Malawi and Zambia |
| October 2025 | The Gambia, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe and Tanzania added |
| January 1, 2026 | Bhutan, Botswana and five other countries added |
| January 21, 2026 | Bangladesh, Nepal and 22 other countries added |
| April 2, 2026 | 12 more countries added, including Cambodia, Georgia and Mongolia |
| August 3, 2026 | Final rule makes the program permanent |
| October 2, 2026 | Revised list released with 50 countries |
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What Indian Travellers Should Do Now
You do not need a bond, but a few steps are worth taking. Confirm that every member of your travel party holds a passport that is not on the list. Prepare a strong B1/B2 application with proof of ties to India, such as a job, property, family and a clear travel plan. Book your interview through the official appointment system, and be careful with agents who promise guaranteed visas. If you are sponsoring a relative from a listed country, understand that they may have to post a bond, and that you might be asked to pay it as a third party.
Indian citizens who also hold another nationality should be careful about which passport they use to apply, since the bond follows the passport.
Beware of Visa Bond Scams
A program that involves large deposits attracts fraud. The official rule is that you pay only after a consular officer directs you to, and only through Pay.gov. Do not send money to an agent, a personal bank account or a website that offers to speed up the process or reduce the amount. No one can buy a lower tier, and the consular officer sets the amount. Be careful with messages that claim to be from the State Department and ask for payment by wire, gift card or cryptocurrency. Use only official government websites.
Official Websites and Resources
| Resource | What it does | Link |
|---|---|---|
| State Department travel site | Official visa bond list, rules and updates | https://travel.state.gov |
| Pay.gov | Official payment platform for the bond | https://www.pay.gov |
| Form I-352 | Immigration bond form | https://www.uscis.gov/i-352 |
| Visa application status | Check your application status | https://ceac.state.gov |
| Visa appointments | Schedule an interview | https://www.usvisa-info.com |
| DHS Entry/Exit Overstay Report | Source of the overstay data | https://www.dhs.gov |
| CBP preclearance locations | Airports that count as commercial ports | https://www.cbp.gov/travel/preclearance |
| USCIS | Extension and change of status information | https://www.uscis.gov |
FAQs About US Visa Bond
What is a US visa bond?
It is a refundable deposit of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 that some B1/B2 applicants from listed countries must post before getting a visa.
Is India on the US visa bond list?
No. Indian passport holders are exempt from the bond requirement.
Which South Asian countries are on the list?
Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.
How many countries are covered?
The State Department says 50.
How much is the visa bond?
$10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, set by a consular officer at the interview.
Who decides the bond amount?
The consular officer, during the visa interview.
When do I pay the visa bond?
Only after a consular officer tells you to. Paying earlier means no refund.
How do I pay the visa bond?
Submit Form I-352 and accept the terms through Pay.gov.
Can someone else pay my bond?
Yes, a friend, relative or business associate can, inside or outside your country.
Does paying the bond guarantee my visa?
No. You still have to be eligible for the visa.
When do I get my bond refunded?
When it is cancelled, for example if you leave on time after your visa expires, or never travel.
What counts as a bond breach?
Overstaying, violating the bond terms, filing a late extension or change of status request or applying for asylum.
Can I enter the US by land with a visa bond?
No. Bond holders must use commercial air ports of entry, including preclearance airports.
Does the bond apply to student or work visas?
The program applies to B1/B2 business and tourist visas.
Why did the US add the bond?
To reduce overstays, using DHS overstay rates by country.
Conclusion
The US visa bond program now covers 50 countries and asks eligible B1/B2 applicants to deposit $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000. India is exempt, while Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal are covered. The consular officer sets the amount, you pay only when told to, through Pay.gov with Form I-352, and you must enter and leave through commercial airports. Supporters see a tool against overstays, and critics see a barrier for travellers from poorer countries. If you hold an Indian passport, you can skip the bond, but you should still prepare a strong application and watch for scams. Use the calculator to check a passport and estimate the cost of a deposit, and confirm every detail on travel.state.gov. We will update this guide when the list or the rules change.
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