Acta Diurna · public desk
U.S. Visa Bonds Move From Pilot to Permanent Rule
The State Department has turned a 12-month visa bond pilot into a standing rule. For some B-1 business and B-2 tourism visa applicants, the cost of getting a visa can now include a refundable bond of up to $20,000.
What changed
The rule appeared in the Federal Register as a final rule, not a proposal. It says the temporary program that started on August 20, 2025 now becomes a permanent visa bond program, effective August 3, 2026.
The mechanics are simple and severe. A consular officer can require a covered temporary visitor to post a bond before the United States issues a B-1 or B-2 visa. The bond exists to make sure the visitor keeps lawful status and leaves when required. If the visitor follows the terms, the bond can be returned. If not, the government can keep it.
The top amount is now $20,000. The State Department page that lists covered countries is the page to check before a trip, because countries can move on or off the list over time.
Who this affects
This does not apply to every traveler. It targets citizens or nationals who apply on passports from countries the State Department places on the bond list, and only when they seek B-1 or B-2 visas. It also depends on the officer’s decision in the individual case; the rule permits a bond, it does not say every applicant must post the maximum.
Reuters and PBS, using Associated Press reporting, both describe the current set as 50 countries, mostly in Africa. The official country page is more useful than a news article for travelers, because it is the operational list. A family planning a wedding visit, a founder trying to attend a trade show, or a student’s parent seeking a short visit could all face a cash requirement before travel even starts.
Why it matters beyond immigration law
A visa bond is a border rule that behaves like a liquidity test. It does not only ask whether a visitor qualifies; it asks whether that visitor can lock away a large sum while the trip happens. That changes who can attend funerals, conferences, medical consultations, graduations, family visits, and business meetings.
The government’s stated theory is compliance. The Federal Register summary says the bond is meant to ensure that covered visitors maintain status and depart as required. Critics will focus on access, because a refundable bond can still block people who do not have $10,000 or $20,000 available at the right time.
For readers, the useful action is narrow: if travel involves a B-1 or B-2 visa and a passport from a listed country, check the State Department country page before booking anything nonrefundable. Then check it again close to the interview.