U.S. Makes Visa Deposits of Up to $20,000 Permanent for 50 Countries

On August 3, 2026, a final regulation was published in the U.S. Federal Register that converts the United States’ so-called Visa Bond Program from a temporary pilot program into a permanent procedure. This allows consular officers to require certain applicants for business and tourist visas to post a financial bond before a visa is issued. The new regulation replaces the 12-month pilot program that began in August 2025 and took effect immediately upon publication.

This affects nationals of a total of 50 countries, which were gradually included in the program during the pilot phase. Anyone from one of these countries designated by the U.S. Department of State who applies for a B-1, B-2, or combined B-1/B-2 visa is automatically subject to the bond requirement under the new regulation. According to U.S. authorities, the pilot phase, which has been underway since August 2025, has shown that the system is workable and can help reduce the number of cases in which travelers overstay their visas.

Three bond levels: $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000

The new regulations provide for three possible bond amounts: $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000. As a rule, the responsible consular officers set the amount at $15,000. A reduction to 10,000 U.S. dollars is possible if the applicant’s financial circumstances make it difficult to raise 15,000 U.S. dollars, provided that the travel expenses to the U.S. can still be covered. Conversely, an amount of $20,000 may be required if, in the officer’s assessment, the standard amount does not provide sufficient assurance that the traveler will leave the country within the authorized period of stay.

For applicants from the affected countries, this means that applying for a B-1/B-2 visa will in the future require additional financial documentation and, if necessary, the deposit of a substantial sum of money before the visa is even issued. This significantly increases the administrative and financial burden of the application process and makes careful, early preparation of the documents all the more important. Precisely because classification into one of the three bond tiers depends on the consular officer’s assessment in each individual case, it is worthwhile to submit a thorough and complete application.

It is also important to note that the visa bond program applies exclusively to certain categories of visitor visas and should not be confused with other entry procedures, such as the ESTA for the U.S., which applies to visa-free short-term stays under the Visa Waiver Program. Anyone who is unsure which visa category applies to their planned trip or whether a bond is required should find out early on about the proper procedure for applying for a U.S. tourist visa to avoid delays.

For travelers from one of the 50 affected countries, we recommend carefully reviewing their individual eligibility requirements before submitting the application. We assist with compiling all the necessary documents and guide you through the entire U.S. visa application process to ensure it proceeds as smoothly as possible despite the new requirements.