United States | State Department finalizes permanent visa bond program for certain B-1/B-2 applicants

The Department of State issued a final rule establishing a permanent Visa Bond Program for certain B-1/B-2 visitor visa applicants from countries identified as having high overstay rates, deficient information sharing, inadequate identity verification or screening concerns.

Key takeaways:

The final rule, effective Aug. 3, 2026, makes permanent the Visa Bond Pilot Program launched in August 2025. The Federal Register notice states that the pilot “has provided sufficient data to suggest that a visa bond program is an effective tool for enforcing compliance among bonded visa holders.”

Nationals of countries already subject to a visa bond requirement under the Visa Bond Pilot Program will continue to be subject to visa bond requirements under the permanent program. The list of countries subject to the visa bond requirement may be updated on a rolling basis, with new country designations announced on the State Department’s website at least 15 days before taking effect.

The program applies only to B-1/B-2 visitor visa applicants subject to the program and not to other visa classifications. Visa holders subject to the program must generally enter and depart the United States through commercial airports, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance locations. Visas may be issued for single or multiple entries for up to 12 months, based on reciprocity.

Consular officers may require bonds of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 based on an applicant’s circumstances. These amounts are higher than under the pilot program. Bond funds will be returned if the visa holder substantially complies with the terms of admission and departs the United States as required. The rule provides that bond proceeds may be forfeited if a traveler violates bond conditions, overstays, files certain untimely immigration requests or otherwise breaches the terms of the bond.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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