The bond began as a pilot on 20 August 2025, with amounts of $5,000 to $15,000. A final rule in the Federal Register made the programme permanent from 3 August 2026 and raised the amounts.
How it works
- Who: anyone travelling on a passport of a listed country who is otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa — wherever they apply. The list includes Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Georgia.
- How much: $15,000 by default; $10,000 if the applicant cannot afford more; $20,000 where the consul sees a higher risk. The consul sets the amount at the interview.
- When: after the interview, once the visa is approved. The visa is issued only when the bond is posted.
How the money comes back
The bond is released after the traveller leaves the United States on time. There is a condition that is easy to miss: entry and exit must be by air, through a commercial airport. Overstaying, or leaving in a way the system cannot record, puts the bond at risk.
What to do
Check the State Department's list before paying the application fee: the $185 is not refunded if you decide the bond is out of reach. Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan are not on the list. For 19 of the 50 countries — Nigeria, Senegal, Cuba and Venezuela among them — B1/B2 visas have not been issued at all since 1 January 2026, so the bond does not come into play.