The U.S. State Department quietly updated its public list of “Countries Subject to Visa Bonds” late Tuesday night, adding 25 nations—mostly in Africa, South Asia and Latin America—to a pilot program that requires certain B-1/B-2 visitors to post refundable bonds of US$5,000, US$10,000 or US$15,000 before a visa can be issued. The program, rolled out on a limited basis in August 2025, is designed to deter short-term visitors from overstaying their visas; consular officers may demand a bond when they believe an applicant presents a heightened overstay risk.
Among the newly added countries are Venezuela, Cuba, Algeria, Nigeria, Nepal and Kyrgyzstan. All must comply beginning 21 January 2026, bringing the total roster to 38 countries. Applicants pay the bond through the Treasury’s Pay.gov portal and forfeit it if they remain in the United States beyond their authorised stay. The bond is in addition to the normal visa application fee and does **not** guarantee visa issuance—an important nuance for corporate mobility managers advising employees or clients.
For travelers and employers navigating these new bond requirements, a trusted facilitator such as VisaHQ can simplify each step. Using its dedicated U.S. platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/), VisaHQ provides up-to-date guidance on bond eligibility, assists with Pay.gov submissions, and tracks refund timelines—helping businesses and individual visitors stay compliant while minimizing administrative headaches.
![U.S. expands controversial visa-bond program to 25 more countries, effective Jan 21]()
The Trump administration argues the measure is necessary because overstay rates among the targeted countries exceed 10 percent, costing millions in enforcement resources. Human-rights NGOs counter that the five-figure bonds are punitive relative to average annual incomes—about US$8,100 in the affected countries—and will discourage legitimate business and family travel. Venezuelan officials called the move “collective punishment” following last weekend’s extradition of former President Nicolás Maduro to New York.
For multinational companies, the new requirement introduces unbudgeted cash-flow issues: a three-month business trip by a Venezuelan engineer, for example, now ties up as much as US$15,000 for the duration of the assignment. Employers should review travel-policy language on bond advances or reimbursements and update invitation letters to satisfy consular bankers’ draft requirements.
Because the bond authority sits in a December 2020 interim final rule that remains in force through December 2030, immigration counsel expect further country-list changes. Mobility teams should monitor the State Department’s online list and prepare traveller communications at least two weeks before the 21 January effective date.
Among the newly added countries are Venezuela, Cuba, Algeria, Nigeria, Nepal and Kyrgyzstan. All must comply beginning 21 January 2026, bringing the total roster to 38 countries. Applicants pay the bond through the Treasury’s Pay.gov portal and forfeit it if they remain in the United States beyond their authorised stay. The bond is in addition to the normal visa application fee and does **not** guarantee visa issuance—an important nuance for corporate mobility managers advising employees or clients.
For travelers and employers navigating these new bond requirements, a trusted facilitator such as VisaHQ can simplify each step. Using its dedicated U.S. platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/), VisaHQ provides up-to-date guidance on bond eligibility, assists with Pay.gov submissions, and tracks refund timelines—helping businesses and individual visitors stay compliant while minimizing administrative headaches.
The Trump administration argues the measure is necessary because overstay rates among the targeted countries exceed 10 percent, costing millions in enforcement resources. Human-rights NGOs counter that the five-figure bonds are punitive relative to average annual incomes—about US$8,100 in the affected countries—and will discourage legitimate business and family travel. Venezuelan officials called the move “collective punishment” following last weekend’s extradition of former President Nicolás Maduro to New York.
For multinational companies, the new requirement introduces unbudgeted cash-flow issues: a three-month business trip by a Venezuelan engineer, for example, now ties up as much as US$15,000 for the duration of the assignment. Employers should review travel-policy language on bond advances or reimbursements and update invitation letters to satisfy consular bankers’ draft requirements.
Because the bond authority sits in a December 2020 interim final rule that remains in force through December 2030, immigration counsel expect further country-list changes. Mobility teams should monitor the State Department’s online list and prepare traveller communications at least two weeks before the 21 January effective date.
