The list of countries whose nationals must post a visa bond in order to enter the United States has been updated by the United States. On December 17, the Department of State revised the visa bond list by adding seven more nations, bringing the total to 13.
The surprise addition to the list is Bhutan, because of its high overstay rate. For fiscal year 2024, the Overstay Rates for Nonimmigrants travelling to 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.
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.
From January 1, 2026, the 7 new countries added to the list include Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan.
The full list of countries is:
Bhutan (January 1, 2026)
Botswana (January 1, 2026)
Central African Republic (January 1, 2026)
Guinea (January 1, 2026)
Guinea Bissau (January 1, 2026)
Namibia (January 1, 2026)
Turkmenistan (January 1, 2026)
Mauritania (October 23, 2025)
Sao Tome and Principe (October 23, 2025)
Tanzania (October 23, 2025)
The Gambia (October 11, 2025)
Malawi (August 20, 2025)
Zambia (August 20, 2025)
Gambia, Malawi and Zambia were the initial inclusions to the list, with Mali, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe and Tanzania, added at a later date.
Following Mali’s addition to a designated list on October 23, 2025, the country imposed corresponding travel restrictions on US visitors in retaliation. This led the US to drop Mali from the visa bond list.
Visa Bond
Any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these 14 countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.
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.
Visa Overstay
Visa overstay is defined as “a nonimmigrant who was lawfully admitted to the United States for an authorized period but stayed in the United States beyond their authorized admission period.”
The visa bond list is based on the B1/B2 overstay rate per the Department of Homeland Security’s FY 2024 Overstay Report, last updated on July 16, 2025.
According to the report, for FY 2023, B1/B2 Overstay Rates for Malawi were 14.32% ( by land) and 4.17% (by air, sea). For students entering the US holding F-1 Study visa, M, and J visas, the overstay rate was 19.71%. Even Zambia has overstay rates of over 10%.
Designated Ports
As a condition of the bond, all visa holders who have posted a visa bond must enter and exit the United States through the designated ports of entry as follows:
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)