US Makes Visa Bond Programme Permanent: Who Must Pay Up To $20,000 And Is India Included?

The United States made its visa bond programme permanent, allowing consular officers to require certain foreign nationals applying for business and tourist visas to deposit a bond of up to $20,000 before a visa is issued. The move applies to applicants seeking B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visas from 50 countries. The rule comes into effect on August 3.

The programme, first introduced as a pilot in 2025, is aimed at discouraging visa overstays by requiring some travellers to place a refundable financial bond before entering the United States.

What Is US Visa Bond Programme?

The visa bond programme allows US consular officers to require certain applicants for B-1 and B-2 visas to deposit a financial bond before their visa is issued. According

to the Federal Register notice, consular officers may require eligible applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition for receiving a visa. The amount will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The bond acts as a financial guarantee that the traveller will comply with the terms of their visa, including leaving the United States before their authorised stay expires.

Why Has Visa Bond Programme Been Made Permanent?

The visa bond programme was introduced as a pilot in 2025 to assess whether financial bonds could reduce visa overstays. According to the US government, the pilot produced sufficient evidence to show that the programme helped improve compliance among visa holders.

“The 2025 visa bond pilot… has provided sufficient data to suggest that a visa bond program is an effective tool for enforcing compliance among bonded visa holders,” the Federal Register notice said.

Who Will Have To Pay The Bond?

The permanent programme applies to citizens of 50 countries applying for B-1 and B-2 visas, with most of the listed countries located in Africa. The list also includes Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. However, posting a bond is not automatic. Consular officers will decide whether an individual applicant must provide one before a visa is issued.

Is India On The List?

No. India is not among the 50 countries covered by the permanent visa bond programme. This means Indian citizens applying for US business or tourist visas will not be required to pay a visa bond under the current rule. However, the US State Department has indicated that additional countries could be added to the programme in the future.

How Has The Rule Changed?

Under the 2025 pilot programme, consular officers could require applicants to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. The permanent programme removes the $5,000 option and increases the maximum bond amount to $20,000.