US Makes Tourists Post $20K Bonds to Prove They'll Leave
Published Date: 8/3/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting August 3, 2026, the U.S. is making its Visa Bond Program permanent! If you’re applying for a B-1/B-2 visa (for business or fun), you might need to pay a bond up to $20,000 to prove you’ll follow visa rules and leave on time. This change affects travelers and consular officers, aiming to keep visa visitors honest and on schedule.
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 7 costs, 0 mixed.
Permanent visa bonds up to $20,000
Starting August 3, 2026, the Visa Bond Program is permanent. If you apply for a B-1/B-2 visa from a covered country, a consular officer may require you to post a bond of $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, with $15,000 generally expected unless the officer decides otherwise.
Forfeiture and debt collection rules
If a bonded visa holder substantially violates bond terms (for example, overstays), the entire bond amount may be forfeited and used to reimburse government costs; bond proceeds are subject to offsets under the Treasury Offset Program and no interest accrues on returned bonds.
Program targets certain non‑VWP countries
The Program applies to B-1/B-2 applicants who are nationals of non‑Visa Waiver Program countries and other designated countries identified by the Department; additions to the covered-country list will be announced at travel.state.gov at least 15 days before taking effect. During the Pilot, visa issuance from added countries declined by 83 percent as of July 2026 and overstays from the 50 pilot countries fell to fewer than 50 in the pilot's first 10 months (compared with 45,488 overstays from those countries in FY 2024).
How you must pay the bond
Bond payments must be made electronically in U.S. dollars through the Treasury-operated Visa Bond Program payment platform. You are responsible for any exchange fees and for credit/debit card processing fees if you pay by card, and funds settlement may take multiple business days.
Bond maximum adjusts for inflation
The $20,000 maximum bond amount will automatically adjust for inflation beginning October 1, 2027, and then every seven years, using the cumulative change in the CPI-U; the adjusted maximum will be rounded up to the nearest $1,000.
Travel entry/exit must be by commercial airports
If you post a visa bond and receive the visa, you must arrive in and depart the United States via commercial airports or CBP Preclearance locations; land or sea ports of entry are not permitted for entry/departure under the bond. Bond cancellation (return of funds) depends on DHS systems confirming you departed by a commercial airport as required.
No general waiver application process
There will be no public application process to waive the bond requirement. In very limited circumstances (for example, certain U.S. government employees or urgent humanitarian needs), consular officers or the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs may grant a discretionary waiver.
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Key Dates
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