US Expands Visa Bond Requirement to Include Seven More Countries
US Expands Visa Bond Requirement to Include Seven More Countries – The United States Department of State has expanded its visa bond pilot programme by adding seven more countries to the list of nations whose citizens are required to post a visa bond of up to US$15,000.
The update, announced on December 17, brings the total number of affected countries to 13. The newly added countries — effective January 1, 2026 — include Bhutan, Botswana, Namibia, Turkmenistan, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and the Central African Republic.
According to US authorities, the decision is based on high visa overstay rates. Bhutan was cited as having an overstay rate exceeding 21 percent for short-term visitors.
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“The visa bond pilot programme targets countries with consistently high overstay rates or weak screening and vetting mechanisms,” the Department of State said in a statement.
Under the programme, eligible B1/B2 visa applicants must post a bond of between US$5,000 and US$15,000, refundable upon compliance with visa conditions.
Malawi, Zambia and The Gambia were among the first African countries included in the programme, which runs until August 2026.
