What Is the New Visa Bond Program?
The United States has placed 50 countries in a program requiring citizens to post a visa bond of $10,000 to $20,000 before receiving a tourist or business (B1/B2) visa. This list was updated by the U.S. State Department on October 2, 2026.
The deposit can be posted by the visa applicant, or by friends, family members, or business partners on the applicant's behalf.
Who Is Affected?
The list of 50 countries includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, though India is not on the list. Vietnam has also not been announced as being on the list.
What is significant, however, is that this program demonstrates that the United States is applying stricter risk-control measures to countries it considers higher-risk regarding security or legal compliance.
What Is the Visa Bond Used For?
The deposit is held to ensure that the visa applicant will comply with U.S. entry requirements, such as departing the country by the visa expiration date. If the applicant complies with these conditions, the deposit will be refunded after the visa expires or the person leaves the United States.
Important Considerations
This program applies only to B1/B2 visas (short-term tourist/business travel). It does not affect other visa categories, such as student visas (F-1), work visas (H-1B, L-1), or immigration benefits like green cards.
Although Vietnam is not currently on the list, this does not mean it will never be added. The list may be updated at any time. If you are preparing to apply for a B1/B2 visa from a country on the current list, contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to confirm specific requirements.
Why Is the United States Implementing This Program?
The visa bond program is part of the U.S. immigration control strategy. It aims to reduce national security risks and ensure that holders of temporary visas depart the United States when their authorization expires. This is a measure the U.S. has applied to other countries in the past.
