Overview
- The State Department published the final rule on August 3, 2026, making permanent a pilot that requires certain B‑1/B‑2 applicants from 50 designated countries to post refundable visa bonds as a condition of issuance.
- Consular officers have discretion to require a bond and to set the amount at $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 while the pilot's $5,000 tier has been removed.
- Bonds are refundable if an application is denied or the traveler leaves within the authorized period but must be forfeited for substantial violations such as overstaying or filing for asylum, and bonded travelers must use commercial airports with U.S. CBP facilities for entry and exit.
- The State Department reported that about 20,000 applicants were subject to the pilot, nearly half declined to pay the bond, B‑1/B‑2 visa issuances to listed countries fell roughly 83%, and overstays among bonded applicants dropped to very low levels during the pilot.
- Most affected countries are in Africa and include three South Asian nations, India is not on the list, and officials say the change could be broadened to other visa categories such as F‑1 students after DHS ends duration‑of‑status admissions on September 15, 2026.