For many Indians planning a holiday, family visit, medical trip or business meeting in the United States, a new headline has triggered anxiety: Will Indians now have to deposit up to $20,000 to get a US
tourist visa?
The confusion began after the US State Department announced that it would make its visa bond programme permanent from August 3, 2026. Under this system, certain applicants for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visas may be asked to deposit a refundable bond of up to $20,000 before the visa is issued. The programme now applies to nationals of 50 countries, most of them in Africa, with a few countries from Asia and other regions also included.
What Is A Visa Bond?
A visa bond is like a security deposit. A consular officer can require an applicant from a designated country to deposit $10,000, $15,000 or up to $20,000 before receiving a B-1/B-2 visa. The money is not a visa fee and does not guarantee visa approval. If the visa is refused, the bond is returned. If the visa is granted and the traveller leaves the United States within the authorised period, the bond is refunded after compliance is verified. If the person overstays or violates visa conditions, the bond can be forfeited.
The programme began as a pilot in August 2025 with only two countries, Malawi and Zambia. It was gradually expanded through 2026 to cover 50 countries, and the latest rule removes the earlier $5,000 minimum tier while raising the maximum bond to $20,000.
Washington says the goal is to reduce visa overstays and improve compliance with immigration rules. Officials have argued that financial bonds can deter people from remaining in the country beyond the period allowed on their visitor visas. Critics, however, say the policy places a heavy burden on travellers from poorer countries and may discourage legitimate tourism and family visits.
Do Indians Have To Pay?
What matters most for Indian travellers is that India is not on the current list of 50 countries subject to visa bonds. The US State Department’s published list of countries covered by the programme does not include India, and multiple reports have confirmed that Indian nationals are not affected by the new bond requirement.
For Indians, the practical takeaway is reassuring. The standard B-1/B-2 process remains unchanged. Indian applicants still pay the regular visa application fee and attend the usual interview process; they are not being asked to deposit $20,000 under the current policy.
Could India be added later? The State Department has the authority to revise the list of countries covered by the programme.
For now, Indian travellers have nothing to worry. The new US visa bond rule is real, the maximum deposit can indeed reach $20,000, but it does not currently apply to Indian tourist or business visa applicants.
