The US Department of State (DOS) has announced an expansion of its Visa Bond Program, which will take effect on April 2, 2026. Under the updated policy, nationals from 50 countries will be required to post a $15,000 bond before being issued B‑1 (business) or B‑2 (tourism) visitor visas to the United States. The bond is refundable if the traveler complies with the terms of the visa, returns home on time, or ultimately does not travel.
Purpose of the Visa Bond Program
Reducing Visa Overstays
According to the Department of State, the visa bond initiative is intended to deter unlawful overstays and encourage timely departure by incentivizing compliance with visa conditions. To date:
- Nearly 1,000 individuals have been issued visas under the program.
- 97% of bonded travelers have departed the United States within their authorized period.
- Prior overstay data indicates that in the final year of the previous administration, more than 44,000 travelers from the same 50 countries overstayed their visitor visas.
The upcoming expansion adds 12 more countries to the program. The State Department notes that additional countries may be included in the future based on assessed immigration risk factors.
Cost Avoidance for US Government
The State Department estimates that:
- The average cost of removing an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States is more than $18,000.
- By reducing overstays, the expanded visa bond program may avoid up to $800 million per year in federal enforcement and removal expenses.
Countries Included in the Visa Bond Program
12 Newly Added Countries
- Cambodia
- Ethiopia
- Georgia
- Grenada
- Lesotho
- Mauritius
- Mongolia
- Mozambique
- Nicaragua
- Papua New Guinea
- Seychelles
- Tunisia
38 Previously Included Countries
- Algeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Central African Republic
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Fiji
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Guinea
- Guinea‑Bissau
- Kyrgyzstan
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tonga
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.