The United States will make permanent a visa bond program requiring applicants from 50 countries to post deposits of up to $20,000, the State Department announced in a Federal Register notice. The final rule takes effect August 3 and applies to B-1 and B-2 business and tourist visas.
The program, made permanent following what the government described as the success of a pilot launched in 2025, eliminates the previous minimum tier and raises the maximum bond from $15,000 to $20,000. During the pilot, authorities recorded fewer than 50 visa violations.
The affected nations include 30 African countries, as well as Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Russia is not on the list.