The U.S. Department of State has announced that, starting August 3rd, a permanent visa bond system will be implemented for B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas. Applicants from 50 designated countries may be required to pay a bond of up to $20,000 (81,827 MYR) in order to obtain a U.S. visa. Of these countries, 30 are from Africa and 13 are from Asia and Oceania.
The draft regulation published by the U.S. government in the Federal Register on July 31 states that the new system applies to those applying for B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas. Consular officers may, based on individual cases, require eligible non-immigrant visa applicants to pay a bond of $10,000, $15,000, or up to a maximum of $20,000 as a condition for the issuance of the visa.
The announcement states: “Consular officers may, at their discretion, require eligible non-immigrant visa applicants to pay a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition for visa issuance.”
The State Department noted that a pilot program for visa bonds launched in 2025 already provided sufficient data proving the system’s feasibility, so it has decided to make the measure permanent.
The announcement pointed out: “The 2025 visa bond pilot program provided the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of the Treasury with a framework to assess the feasibility of the visa bond system, and the collected data sufficiently demonstrates that the visa bond system is an effective tool to ensure bond visa holders comply with regulations.”
The new system also raises the bond amounts. During the pilot period, the bond was set at three tiers: $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000. The permanent system removes the $5,000 option and increases the maximum to $20,000.
According to the provisions, consular officers will generally require a bond of $15,000, but this may be adjusted based on individual circumstances. If it is determined that the applicant cannot afford $15,000 but is still capable of paying for travel expenses, the bond may be reduced to $10,000. If the applicant is assessed to have stronger ties to the United States, making $15,000 insufficient to ensure their timely departure, the bond may be raised to $20,000.
The State Department stated that, when assessing applicants, consular officers may take into account factors such as the purpose of travel, employment, income, educational level, and professional skills. Therefore, the bond amount is not determined solely by nationality, but rather by a comprehensive evaluation of individual cases.
The bond is refundable; as long as the visa holder complies with visa regulations and departs the United States within the legal stay period, or lawfully applies to extend stay or change status according to the relevant regulations, the full bond will be refunded. If the individual obtains a visa but does not travel to the U.S., or if refused entry at a U.S. port of entry, the bond can also be refunded.
However, the bond does not replace the visa application fee. Applicants are still required to pay the $185 B-category visa application fee. After the interview, if the bond payment is requested, the applicant must pay the bond before the case is reconsidered. Visa issuance or refusal may still result.
The permanent bond system currently applies to 50 countries, with approximately 60%—a total of 30 countries—from Africa. Thirteen countries from Asia and Oceania are included, namely Bangladesh, Cambodia, Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Other countries include Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Georgia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and others.
The State Department stated that the applicable list will continue to be adjusted on a rolling basis. Newly added countries are usually announced at least 15 days in advance, while removal from the list can take effect immediately. The system applies to holders of passports from the above countries, regardless of where the U.S. visa application is made.