The U.S. Department of State quietly updated its “Countries Subject to Visa Bonds” notice on January 6 2026, adding seven nations—Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan—to the pilot program that requires certain B-1/B-2 applicants to post refundable cash bonds of US $5,000-15,000. The change, reflected on Travel.State.Gov, lifts the total number of affected countries to 39. (travel.state.gov)
The visa-bond pilot was launched in August 2025 to deter short-term visitors who overstay. Consular officers may invoke the bond only after determining the applicant is otherwise eligible. Even then, payment of the bond does not guarantee visa issuance, and travelers must arrive through one of three designated U.S. airports (BOS, JFK, IAD). Bonds are automatically cancelled—and funds returned—once CBP records timely departure.
![State Department Expands Visa Bond Program, Adds Seven More Countries]()
Hours after the update posted, The Washington Post highlighted the program’s rapid growth and the unusual inclusion of some low-overstay countries. The report estimates upfront costs could exceed US $20 million annually if 2,000 travelers each post a US $10,000 bond. Business groups warn the requirement will discourage legitimate visitors, complicate international meetings and increase compliance workloads for corporate travel teams. (washingtonpost.com)
For global-mobility managers, the immediate task is to identify employees or clients who hold passports from the newly listed states and adjust travel timelines. Advisories should stress that bond payments must be made only via Pay.gov after consular direction; third-party “bond services” have already begun targeting confused travelers. Companies may also need to build internal procedures for tracking bond refunds and ensuring arrivals occur through the mandated ports.
Longer term, the pilot’s expansion signals a broader shift toward financial-surety mechanisms to enforce compliance. If overstay data improves, DHS could push to make the scheme permanent or broaden it to other visa classes. Conversely, if collections prove burdensome or politically sensitive, the bond requirement may expire when the one-year pilot ends in August 2026.
The visa-bond pilot was launched in August 2025 to deter short-term visitors who overstay. Consular officers may invoke the bond only after determining the applicant is otherwise eligible. Even then, payment of the bond does not guarantee visa issuance, and travelers must arrive through one of three designated U.S. airports (BOS, JFK, IAD). Bonds are automatically cancelled—and funds returned—once CBP records timely departure.
Hours after the update posted, The Washington Post highlighted the program’s rapid growth and the unusual inclusion of some low-overstay countries. The report estimates upfront costs could exceed US $20 million annually if 2,000 travelers each post a US $10,000 bond. Business groups warn the requirement will discourage legitimate visitors, complicate international meetings and increase compliance workloads for corporate travel teams. (washingtonpost.com)
For global-mobility managers, the immediate task is to identify employees or clients who hold passports from the newly listed states and adjust travel timelines. Advisories should stress that bond payments must be made only via Pay.gov after consular direction; third-party “bond services” have already begun targeting confused travelers. Companies may also need to build internal procedures for tracking bond refunds and ensuring arrivals occur through the mandated ports.
Longer term, the pilot’s expansion signals a broader shift toward financial-surety mechanisms to enforce compliance. If overstay data improves, DHS could push to make the scheme permanent or broaden it to other visa classes. Conversely, if collections prove burdensome or politically sensitive, the bond requirement may expire when the one-year pilot ends in August 2026.
