Visa Bonds Pilot Program
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has established a pilot program to test a surety bond system for certain B-1/B-2 visitor visa applicants from countries with high overstay rates or other conditions.
The U.S. Department of State has updated the list of countries subject to the visa bond pilot program and added 25 more countries, to be implemented 1/21/2026.
Nationals of the listed countries must post bonds of $5,000-$15,000 to travel to the U.S. on B1/B2 visas and travel through a designated port of entry.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/countries-subject-to-visa-bonds.html
A U.S. consular officer shall, at the time of application for a B-1/B-2 visa, issue a visa bond in an amount determined to be sufficient to ensure that the applicant will properly maintain the status of residence granted at the time of entry or subsequently acquired under Section 248 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and will not remain in the United States beyond the authorized period of stay. The amount of the Visa Bond will be based on
In addition, B-1/B-2 visas approved under the Visa Bond Pilot Program will be single-entry visas, allowing only one entry into the United States within three months of the visa issuance date.
This pilot program will run for approximately one year, from August 20, 2025 to August 5, 2026.
January 2026
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Hawaii and Kentucky (inactive) attorney with Go Law Group, assisting corporations and individuals throughout the United States with a focus on immigration law. She has extensive experience in litigation, intellectual property, and patents, and is well versed in corporate law.