# 2026-15726: US Makes Tourists Post $20K Bonds to Prove They'll Leave

2026-15726, Visas: Visa Bond Program, is a Federal Register rule from State Department published 2026-08-03, effective 2026-08-03 (as of 2026-08-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15726
- As of: 2026-08-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-15726
- Title: Visas: Visa Bond Program
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: State Department
- Citation: 91 FR 48757
- Published: 2026-08-03
- Effective: 2026-08-03
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 1400-AG33
- Last updated: 2026-08-10

## In one line

US Makes Tourists Post $20K Bonds to Prove They'll Leave

## 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.

## Abstract

This rule finalizes the temporary final rule that went into effect on August 20, 2025, which launched a 12-month long Visa Bond Pilot Program (Pilot Program), and establishes a permanent visa bond program. An alien applying for a visa as a temporary visitor for business or pleasure (B-1/B-2) may be required to submit a bond ("visa bond") to ensure that the alien maintains his or her nonimmigrant status and departs as required. Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers.

## Effects PRIA read

- Permanent visa bonds up to $20,000: cost, high. 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 otherwis…
- How you must pay the bond: cost, medium. 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: cost, medium. 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: cost, medium. 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…
- No general waiver application process: cost, low. 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.
- Forfeiture and debt collection rules: cost, high. 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: cost, high. 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 iss…

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## Sources
- [2026-15726 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/03/2026-15726/visas-visa-bond-program)
- [2026-15726 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-03/pdf/2026-15726.pdf)

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- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15726 (as of 2026-08-10).