US makes $20,000 visa bond program permanent for travelers from 50 countries

The United States has formalized its visa bond program, requiring certain travelers from 50 countries, including Nigeria and 29 other African nations, to pay a refundable $20,000 bond before obtaining specific U.S. visas. The Department of State announced this permanent measure, which targets applicants for B1/B2 business and tourist visas who are otherwise eligible but are flagged by a consular officer for a bond requirement.

This program, initially introduced as a pilot scheme, is designed to enhance compliance with U.S. immigration laws. According to a federal notice, travelers who respect their visa conditions and leave the U.S. within their authorized period will receive a full refund of their bond. The Department of State indicated that the pilot program provided sufficient data to confirm the effectiveness of visa bonds as a tool for enforcing compliance among visa holders.

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Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post ⁠a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined ​by the consular officers.

The list of 50 affected countries includes nations across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. For example, Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyz Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe face potential bond requirements. Some countries, like The Gambia and Mauritania, have earlier implementation dates for the bond requirement.

The U.S. Department of State stated, "Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers." The notice further explained that the "2025 visa bond pilot... has provided sufficient data to suggest that a visa bond program is an effective tool for enforcing compliance among bonded visa holders."

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The 2025 visa bond pilot, which provided a ​framework for the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of the Treasury to assess the feasibility of administering a visa bond program, has provided sufficient ​data to suggest that a visa bond program is an effective tool for ​enforcing compliance among bonded visa holders.