US State Department Makes B-1/B-2 Visa Bond Program Permanent – Bond Amounts Increased to $20,000

Editorial Team
44 minutes ago
4 min read

Washington D.C., July 31, 2026 — The U.S. Department of State has finalized regulations establishing a permanent Visa Bond Program for certain B-1/B-2 (business and tourist) visa applicants, effective August 3, 2026.

The final rule, set to be published in Monday's Federal Register, makes permanent a pilot program launched in August 2025 and significantly increases the bond amounts that may be collected — raising the maximum from $15,000 to $20,000.

Published: August 1, 2026 | By VisasUpdate.com Editorial Team

US B-1/B-2 visa bond program permanent 2026 – infographic showing bond amounts increased to $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000, affecting 50 countries, with pilot program results showing 83% decline in visa issuance — The U.S. State Department makes the B-1/B-2 visa bond program permanent with bond amounts up to $20,000, effective August 3, 2026

The program currently applies to nationals of 50 designated countries, many of which are African nations. Under the permanent program, B-1/B-2 visa applicants from these countries will be required to post a bond of $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 in order to obtain their visa.

Key Changes at a Glance

Aspect	Pilot Program (2025-2026)	Permanent Program (From Aug 3, 2026)
Bond Amounts	$5,000, $10,000, or $15,000	$10,000, $15,000, or $20,000
Maximum Bond	$15,000	$20,000
Status	Temporary (one-year pilot)	Permanent
Countries Covered	50 (as of April 2026)	50 (rolling updates)
Refund	Full refund upon compliance	Full refund upon compliance

How the Visa Bond Program Works

Who Is Subject to the Program?

The program applies to nationals of countries designated by the State Department based on:

Factor	Details
High Overstay Rates	Countries with significant numbers of visa overstays
Deficient Information Sharing	Lack of cooperation with U.S. authorities
Identity Verification Issues	Weak systems for verifying identity and criminal records
Document Security	Insufficient screening and security of travel and civil documents

Currently, 50 countries are designated under the program, many of which are African nations. The list is available on the State Department's travel website and may change on a rolling basis. New country designations will generally be announced at least 15 days before implementation.

Bond Amount Determination

Consular officers will determine the bond amount based on the applicant's individual circumstances:

Bond Level	Amount
Standard	$15,000 (generally the default)
Lower	$10,000 (at officer's discretion)
Higher	$20,000 (at officer's discretion)

Factors officers may consider include:

Purpose of travel
Employment history
Income and financial resources
Education and skills
Family and personal ties to the United States

Beginning October 1, 2027, the maximum bond amount will be subject to periodic inflation adjustments.

Application Process

Book Appointment – Applicants for a B visa arrange an interview at a U.S. consulate overseas and pay the regular visa fees
Consular Interview – If the applicant otherwise qualifies, the officer informs them of the bond requirement and the amount
Temporary Refusal – The visa application is temporarily refused
Bond Payment – The applicant or a third party pays the bond online via Form I-352 and the Department of Treasury payment portal (www.pay.gov)[reference:24]
Final Review – The consular officer confirms eligibility and issues the visa

Visa Validity

Visas issued under the program may be valid for single or multiple entries with a three-to-twelve-month validity, depending on reciprocity rules and other factors. The visa will include a note showing that a visa bond has been submitted.

Bond Refund Conditions

Visa holders are eligible for a complete refund of their bond payment if they:

Condition	Details
Comply with Visa Terms	Maintain lawful status in the U.S.
No Unauthorized Employment	Do not work without authorization
Timely Departure	Depart before the end of authorized stay
Extension/Change of Status	Timely file an extension or change of status request
Designated Ports	Enter and depart through a commercial airport or CBP preclearance location

If a timely filed extension or change of status request is denied, the foreign national must depart the U.S. within 10 days of the denial to comply with bond terms.

Returned bond amounts will not accrue any interest.

Bond Breach and Forfeiture

A visa bond will be considered breached and payment forfeited in cases of substantial violation, including:

Violation	Details
Overstay	Remaining in the U.S. after the period of admission expires
Untimely Filing	Filing an untimely extension or change of status request
Denial Non-Departure	Failing to depart within 10 days of a denied extension/change request
Asylum Filing	Filing for asylum or humanitarian protection on Form I-589

If the State Department makes a preliminary finding of non-compliance, the case is forwarded to DHS, which makes the final decision on whether the bond was breached. If breached, the bond payment is forfeited and retained by the government.

Pilot Program Results

The State Department reports that the one-year pilot program demonstrated significant effectiveness:

Metric	Result
FY 2024 Overstays	Nearly 45,500 from the 50 covered countries
Overstays During Pilot (First 10 Months)	Fewer than 50
Visa Issuance Decline	83% reduction in B visa issuance for covered countries
Expected Applicants	2,000 (initial estimate)
Actual Covered Applicants	~20,000
Bond Payment Rate	Nearly half of covered applicants paid the bond

"The department anticipates that this final rule will further decrease the demand for B1/B2 visa applications from nationals of countries included in the program."

Legal Authority

The program is authorized under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) , which grants the State Department authority to require bonds for nonimmigrant visa applicants.

Key Dates

Date	Event
August 2025	Pilot program launched
April 2, 2026	Program expanded to 50 countries
July 31, 2026	Final rule announced
August 3, 2026	Permanent program takes effect
October 1, 2027	Inflation adjustments begin

Update	Status	Effective
B-1/B-2 Visa Bond Program (Permanent)	Active	August 3, 2026
Ethiopia/South Sudan TPS EAD Extension	Active	August 6, 2026
Somalia TPS EAD Extension	Active	August 3, 2026
J-1 Termination Proposed Rule	Comment period open	60 days from July 30