US Visa Bond Made Permanent, 50 Countries Now Face Up to $20,000 Deposit

The U.S. visa bond program is now permanent. If you're a foreign national traveling to the United States for short-term business meetings, conferences, negotiations, or tourism, your visa application could now come with an additional financial requirement. 

The U.S. State Department has made its visa bond program permanent through a final rule published in the Federal Register on August 3, meaning certain applicants for B-1, B-2, and combined B-1/B-2 visas from 50 designated countries may be required to pay a refundable bond of up to $20,000 before receiving a visa. 

The permanent program introduces three bond amounts: $10,000, $15,000 (the standard amount), and $20,000.

The policy, which took effect on August 3, 2026, follows a year-long pilot program launched in August 2025. Explaining why the program is now permanent, the State Department said the pilot had demonstrated that visa bonds could be effectively administered and improve compliance among travelers.

H-1B FY2027 Cap Reached: No Second Lottery, What’s Next

The US has confirmed it has received enough H-1B visa petitions to meet the FY2027 cap, ending hopes of a second lottery this year.

TechloyTreasure Ayanfe Adetula

What countries are affected by the new US visa bond rule? 

The permanent program applies to nationals of 50 countries designated by the U.S. State Department who are applying for B-1 (business), B-2 (tourism), or combined B-1/B-2 visas. 

The list includes Nigeria alongside several other African countries such as Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana's neighbors Togo and Benin, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, among others.