- US B1/B2 visa applicants from over 40 countries must post a bond before their visas are issued.
- Bond amounts range from $5,000 to $15,000, set during the visa interview.
- The policy targets countries with high rates of visa overstays and immigration violations.
- Payment must be made through the US government’s official platform (Pay.gov) after consular direction.
The US Department of State has announced a new visa bond policy affecting tourists and business travellers applying for B1/B2 visas. Nationals from over 40 countries, including Uganda and Tanzania, will be required to post a bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 before a visa can be issued.
The exact bond amount will be determined during the visa interview. Applicants must complete the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352 and pay the bond via the official online platform, Pay.gov, only when instructed by a US consular officer.
Officials warned applicants not to use third-party platforms for payment. Premature payments made without consular instruction will not be refunded.
Refunds of the bond are strictly conditional. The US will return the money if the visa holder leaves the country on time, does not travel to the US before visa expiration, or is denied entry at the port of arrival. Any breach of bond conditions, such as overstaying or seeking unauthorised status adjustments, may lead to forfeiture.
Visa bondholders will be allowed to enter and exit the US only through designated ports of entry. Initial implementation starts on August 20, 2025, at Boston Logan, John F. Kennedy, and Washington Dulles airports. Additional airports, including Newark, Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, Toronto Pearson, and Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau, will follow from January 1, 2026.
The policy affects applicants from Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The US Department of State explained that the new bond system aims to reduce visa overstays and ensure compliance with immigration rules. The measure also seeks to protect the US immigration system while allowing high-risk applicants to travel legally and transparently.
This policy marks one of the most stringent pre-visa financial requirements for travellers from the listed countries and emphasises careful compliance with US visa and immigration rules.
