The United States has revised the list of nations whose citizens are required to post a visa bond to enter the country. The Department of State updated the list of countries eligible for visa bonds on January 6, adding 25 more, for a total of 38 countries. Thirteen nations were on the list as of the December 6 announcement.
Bangladesh, Nepal and Nigeria are the surprise additions to the list. Venezuela, whose president, Nicolas Maduro, was recently captured by the US, has also been added to the US Bond Visa list. From January 21, 2026, nationals from these 25 countries will also need visa bonds to enter America.
The surprise addition in the December 6 release was Bhutan, because of its high overstay rate. For fiscal year 2024, the Overstay Rates for Nonimmigrants travelling to the US for Business or Pleasure, the Total Overstay Rate for Bhutan was 21.75%. For students, the Total Overstay Rate was 24.32%. Comparatively, for India, it is 1.28% and 4.32%, respectively.
Visa Bond
Any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these 38 countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.
The visa bond pilot program applies to foreigners applying for visas as temporary visitors, nationals of countries with high visa overstay rates, or those countries offering Citizenship by Investment plans to foreigners.
The amount is determined at the time of the visa interview. The applicant must also submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352.
The bond will be canceled and refunded automatically if: the visa holder leaves the U.S. on or before their authorized stay; does not arrive in the U.S. before the visa expires; or is denied entry at the U.S. port of entry.
The 12-month-long visa bond pilot program is an initiative announced by the Department of State. This visa bond pilot program began on August 20, 2025, and will be there until August 5, 2026.
Which Nations are Targeted
Foreigners applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure (B-1/B-2) and who are nationals of countries identified by the Department as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering Citizenship by Investment, if the foreigner obtained citizenship with no residency requirement, are subject to the pilot program.
Full List of Countries
Algeria (January 21, 2026)
Angola (January 21, 2026)
Antigua and Barbuda (January 21, 2026)
Bangladesh (January 21, 2026)
Benin (January 21, 2026)
Bhutan (January 1, 2026)
Botswana (January 1, 2026)
Burundi (January 21, 2026)
Cabo Verde (January 21, 2026)
Central African Republic (January 1, 2026)
Cote D’Ivorie (January 21, 2026)
Cuba (January 21, 2026)
Djibouti (January 21, 2026)
Dominica (January 21, 2026)
Fiji (January 21, 2026)
Gabon (January 21, 2026)
The Gambia (October 11, 2025)
Guinea (January 1, 2026)
Guinea Bissau (January 1, 2026)
Kyrgyzstan (January 21, 2026)
Malawi (August 20, 2025)
Mauritania (October 23, 2025)
Namibia (January 1, 2026)
Nepal (January 21, 2026)
Nigeria (January 21, 2026)
Sao Tome and Principe (October 23, 2025)
Senegal (January 21, 2026)
Tajikistan (January 21, 2026)
Tanzania (October 23, 2025)
Togo (January 21, 2026)
Tonga (January 21, 2026)
Turkmenistan (January 1, 2026)
Tuvalu (January 21, 2026)
Uganda (January 21, 2026)
Vanuatu (January 21, 2026)
Venezuela (January 21, 2026)
Zambia (August 20, 2025)
Zimbabwe (January 21, 2026)