Overview
- The State Department published the final rule on Aug. 3, 2026, converting a yearlong pilot into a permanent program that currently covers 50 countries.
- Consular officers may require selected B‑1/B‑2 applicants to post refundable bonds of $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 and set the amount case by case.
- The department says the pilot cut recorded overstays from about 45,500 in 2024 to fewer than 50 among bonded travelers while roughly 20,000 applications were flagged for bonds and visa issuances from listed countries fell about 83 percent.
- Bonded travelers must use commercial airports for entry and exit, bonds are forfeited for overstays or filing for asylum, USCIS may view a bond negatively on change or extension requests, and the State Department can add countries with 15 days' notice or remove them immediately.
- The policy mainly affects about 30 African countries and a few in South Asia and the Pacific, raises concerns that high upfront deposits will block legitimate tourism, family and business travel, and could be expanded to other visa categories if DHS changes student rules.