What Is the Permanent Visa Bond Rule?
The US visa bond is a refundable financial guarantee that certain applicants for B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourist) visas must pay to a consular officer before their visa is issued. The policy, which began as a pilot program in August 2025, is now permanent.
Its stated purpose is to serve as a tool to discourage visitors from overstaying their authorized period of admission. Under the new permanent rule, the required bond amounts have been increased and are now set at $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000. The specific amount is determined by a consular officer during the visa interview based on the applicant's individual circumstances.
The Crucial Question: Is India on the List?
For Indian travellers, this is the most important detail. As of early August 2026, the situation appears mixed, leading to some confusion. While one legal analysis source suggests that India is on the visa bond list along with countries like Pakistan and Nepal, this is not widely corroborated. Multiple other official reports and news outlets have published detailed lists of the 50 countries currently affected by the rule, and India is not included on them. These lists do, however, feature some of India's neighbours, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. The State Department has noted that the country list is subject to change on a rolling basis, so the situation could evolve.
Which Nationalities Are Currently Covered?
The permanent visa bond program currently applies to nationals of 50 countries that the US government deems to have high rates of visa overstays. The list is heavily focused on African nations, with around 30 countries from the continent included. Other countries on the list from the broader Asian region include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Nepal. The inclusion of these nations gives Indian travellers a sense of the policy's geographic and geopolitical scope, even if India itself is not currently on the most reliable lists.
How the Bond Process Works
This rule is not applied to every applicant from a designated country. The decision rests with the US consular officer conducting the visa interview. If the officer determines an applicant is otherwise qualified for the visa but falls under the bond requirement, they will inform the applicant of the specific bond amount required. The visa will not be printed or issued until proof of payment is received. The bond is intended to be fully refundable. To get the money back, the visa holder must comply with all the terms of their visit and, most importantly, depart the United States before their authorized stay expires. If a traveller overstays their visa or violates other conditions, the entire bond amount may be forfeited.
The Standard Visa Process for Most Indians
Given that the most credible evidence suggests Indian nationals are not currently subject to the visa bond, the established application process for a US visitor visa remains the same for the vast majority of applicants. This process involves several key steps that have been in place for years. Applicants must first complete the DS-160 online application form, pay the non-refundable visa application fee (currently around $185), and then schedule two separate appointments: one for biometric data collection (fingerprints and photo) at a Visa Application Center (VAC), and a second for the formal visa interview at a US Embassy or Consulate.
