Just two days after the Trump administration expanded a policy requiring some foreign travellers to post a cash bond of up to $15,000 before entering the United States, it has widened the list again. According to the State Department, the requirement now applies to travellers from 38 countries, a move that could make US visas far more expensive and harder to obtain for many people.
On Tuesday, the US State Department added 25 more countries to the list, coming just days after seven countries were added earlier, nearly tripling the total number affected in a short span of time.
US expands visa bond rule to 38 countries
With the latest expansion, travellers from 38 countries are now subject to the bond requirement. Most of these countries are in Africa, with others in Latin America and Asia. Starting January 21, the bond requirement will apply to travellers from Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.
Countries already subject to the bond rule include Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, and Zambia.
While a few South Asian countries such as Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal feature on the list, India is not included among the nations affected by the visa bond requirement.
When will the new rule take effect
For the newly added countries, including Venezuela, the bond requirement will begin on January 21. The policy applies to travellers seeking B1/B2 visas, which are commonly issued for business and tourism. According to the State Department, “Any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these 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.”
One must understand, paying the bond does not guarantee that a visa will be approved. However, if a visa is denied, the bond amount will be refunded. The money will also be returned when a visa holder proves they followed all visa conditions, such as leaving the US on time.
The new list follows a pilot program launched in August, which targeted visa applicants from countries with high overstay rates and weak document security systems.
Visa bond rules: What travellers must know before entering the US
As part of the bond condition, visa holders who have posted a visa bond are required to enter and exit the United States only through specific airports. Using any other airport could lead to denied entry.
For now, travellers under this rule must use one of the following ports of entry, starting August 20, 2025:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York (JFK)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
If officials suspect that a visa holder has not followed the bond rules, the case is passed on by the Department of Homeland Security to USCIS for review. Authorities look into cases where someone leaves the US late, overstays without departing, or tries to change their visa status, including applying for asylum. Based on this review, USCIS decides whether the bond terms were violated and if the bond amount should be taken.