U.S. Expands Visa Bond Program to 50 Countries

The U.S. Department of State announced on March 18 that it will expand its visa bond program to include 50 countries, requiring foreign nationals applying for B1 business and B2 tourism visas to post a $15,000 bond.

This initiative, effective from April 2, 2026, is designed to address the issue of visa overstays, which has seen a significant increase, with 44,000 overstays reported last year. The program has already shown a 97% compliance rate among participants, with nearly 1,000 visas issued under the current scheme.

The expansion will add 12 countries, including Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, to the existing list of 38 countries already participating in the program. The bond is fully refundable upon compliance with visa terms, and the Department of State emphasizes that this measure aims to reduce the number of individuals overstaying their visas in the U.S., thereby saving taxpayers significant costs associated with immigration enforcement, estimated at $800 million annually.