The Trump administration has imposed strict monetary liability on citizens of specific countries before they enter the US. Under the Visa Bond Pilot program, citizens of select countries will have to pay a refundable amount before they are allowed to enter the US.
US has been revising the list of countries in the Visa Bond program. From January 21, 2026, citizens of another 25 countries will also need visa bonds to enter America.
Visa Bond Program
The visa bond program will apply to foreigners applying for visas as temporary visitors, citizens of countries with high visa overstay rates, or those countries offering Citizenship by Investment plans to foreigners.
Most recently, the United States revised its visa bond list on January 6, updating the countries whose citizens must post a visa bond for entry. The Department of State updated the list of countries requiring visa bonds by adding 25 more nations, taking the total to 38 countries. Bangladesh, Nepal and Nigeria were the surprise additions to the list. The surprise addition in the December 6 release was Bhutan, because of its high overstay rate.
This visa bond pilot program began on August 20, 2025, and will be in place until August 5, 2026.
Impact on B1/B2 Visa Applicants
Any citizen 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 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.
Full List of Countries Effective January 21, 2026
Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cote D’Ivorie, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.
Full List of Countries Effective January 1, 2026
Bhutan
Botswana
Central African Republic
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Namibia
Turkmenistan
Full List of Countries Effective August 20, 2025
Malawi
Zambia
Effective October 11, 2025
The Gambia
Full List of Countries Effective October 23, 2025
Sao Tome and Principe
Mauritania
Tanzania