US Visa Bond Up to $20,000 Now Covers 50 Countries; India Not on Updated List
The United States has updated its visa-bond programme, requiring eligible B1/B2 visa applicants from 50 countries to post a refundable bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 before a visa can be issued.
For Indian travellers, however, there is an important distinction: India is not included on the U.S. State Department’s updated list of countries subject to the visa-bond requirement.
The official list was last updated on October 2, 2026. While several South Asian countries — including Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal — are covered by the programme, Indian passport holders are not currently subject to this particular bond requirement.
This does not mean U.S. visa rules have become easier for Indians generally. Indian applicants must still meet the normal eligibility, documentation, interview and screening requirements for the visa category they apply for. The update only means that the additional visa bond described under this programme does not currently apply to India.
What is the US visa bond programme?
The visa-bond programme applies to certain travellers seeking B1/B2 visas, which are commonly used for temporary business and tourism visits to the United States.
Under the programme, a citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of the listed countries who is otherwise found eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond.
The amount can be:
- $10,000
- $15,000
- $20,000
The exact amount is determined by the consular officer during the visa interview. The applicant must also submit DHS Form I-352 and follow the payment instructions provided by the U.S. government.
The programme operates under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The State Department says the countries covered are identified using B1/B2 visa-overstay information from the Department of Homeland Security. A final rule establishing the programme took effect on August 3, 2026.
India is not on the 50-country list
This is the key point for Indian travellers.
As of the State Department’s October 2, 2026 update, India does not appear on the list of countries whose nationals must post these visa bonds.
That means an Indian passport holder applying for a regular B1/B2 visa is not required to deposit $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 merely because of this programme.
Neighbouring Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal are included.
Bangladesh and Nepal have been subject to the requirement since January 21, 2026, while Bhutan’s implementation date is January 1, according to the State Department.
Which 50 countries are covered?
The State Department’s current list includes Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyz Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The official and most current country list can be checked directly on the U.S. Department of State visa-bond page.
Is the $20,000 a new visa fee?
No. The bond should not be confused with a standard visa application fee.
It is a financial guarantee linked to compliance with the conditions of the visa.
The State Department says the person who posts the bond can receive the deposit back when the bond is cancelled without a breach of its terms. Among the circumstances described by the department are cases where a visa holder leaves the United States on time and complies with the applicable visa conditions.
The person paying the bond can also be someone other than the applicant, such as a family member, friend or business associate. If the conditions for a refund are satisfied, the money is returned to the person who posted the bond.
Because payments are made and refunded in U.S. dollars, the State Department notes that the person posting the bond bears any exchange-rate risk.
Paying $20,000 does not guarantee a US visa
Another important detail is that paying a visa bond does not guarantee visa approval.
The State Department specifically instructs applicants not to make a bond payment unless a consular officer directs them to do so.
Applicants who are required to post a bond receive instructions and a direct link to make the payment through the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov platform.
This warning is particularly important because a programme involving payments of up to $20,000 could potentially be exploited by scammers.
Applicants should not send money to an agent, unofficial website or individual claiming that paying a bond will guarantee a U.S. visa.
Special entry and exit rules apply to bond holders
Travellers who are required to post a visa bond also face specific rules when entering and leaving the United States.
According to the State Department, visa-bond holders must use commercial air ports of entry, including eligible U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance locations.
They cannot satisfy the programme’s entry and departure requirements by using charter aircraft, general aviation, land crossings or seaports.
These restrictions are important because properly recorded departure is one of the factors used to determine compliance with the bond.
When can the bond be refunded?
The State Department outlines several situations in which a bond can be cancelled and the money returned.
For example, a refund can occur when a traveller leaves the United States on time through an eligible commercial air port and complies with the terms of the visa.
The bond can also be returned if the visa expires without the holder travelling to the United States, subject to the government’s records and applicable conditions.
Potential violations can be referred to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for a determination on whether the bond has been breached.
What does this mean for Indian travellers?
For most readers in India, the practical takeaway is straightforward.
Indian passport holders are not currently included in the U.S. visa-bond country list.
Therefore, an Indian B1/B2 applicant should not assume that they need to arrange a $20,000 deposit because of headlines about the programme.
The usual U.S. visa application requirements continue to apply, and individual visa decisions remain subject to U.S. immigration law and consular assessment.
The State Department can also update the programme and its country list, so travellers planning a future application should check official U.S. government guidance rather than relying on old social-media posts or third-party claims.
Why has the US introduced visa bonds?
The programme is aimed primarily at addressing concerns over visitors remaining in the United States beyond their authorised period of stay.
The State Department says country selection is connected to B1/B2 overstay rates reported by the Department of Homeland Security.
The programme therefore attempts to create an additional financial incentive for affected visitors to comply with the conditions of their temporary stay.
For Indian travellers, the October update brings a measure of clarity: despite India being one of the world’s major sources of U.S. visa applicants, it is not currently among the 50 nationalities subject to this particular bond requirement.