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Tourists and business travelers from dozens of nations will face steep new fees to enter the United States by the end of January, according to the State Department.
The Trump administration first launched the new visa bond pilot program in August of last year, requiring tourists and business travelers to post bond payments of up to $15,000 in order to visit the US. Currently, the policy applies to citizens from 13 nations. Now, the Trump administration says it plans on adding another 25 countries to the list by the end of January.
Starting on January 21, 2026, the visa bond policy is expected to apply to a total of 38 countries. Several of the nations being added to the visa bond policy also fall under the Trump administration’s partial travel ban, a list that was expanded in December 2025 and narrowly limits the types of visas issued to those nations’ citizens. Here’s everything travelers need to know about the expanded policy, including the program’s refund guidelines and airport restrictions.
Which countries are included in the visa bond pilot program?
Visa bonds are currently required for citizens of the following countries, according to the State Department’s website:
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Central African Republic
- Guinea
- Guinea Bissau
- Namibia
- Turkmenistan
- The Gambia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Tanzania
- Zambia
The State Department plans to add another 25 countries to the visa bond list later this month, effective January 21. Those countries include:
- Algeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cote D’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Kyrgyzstan
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Tajikistan
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Zimbabwe
Which types of visas are affected?
The policy applies to all B1 and B2 visas, which are for business, tourism, or a combination of both and are typically valid for six months to a year. For now, the bonds in the pilot program won’t apply to student visas, which can be valid for several years, or other visa types.
The visa bond pilot program is slated to last 12 months, according to the initial notice published in the federal register.
How much are the visa bonds?
Citizens traveling from the listed countries on B1 and B2 visas will need to pay a visa bond in the amount of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 in order to enter the US. The amount an individual is required to pay is determined by officials at the time of visa application review.
The bond amount each visa applicant will be required to post will be “based upon the applicant’s circumstances as determined by the consular officer but in an amount of no less than $5,000, unless the bond requirement is waived,” the notice states. Guidance in the documents shows that consular officers will be advised to set the bond at $10,000 in most cases. Visa applicants will receive a State Department email to the address provided on their application with the link to post their bond amount via the US Treasury’s Pay.Gov service.
Will the visa bonds be refunded?
Travelers who comply with the terms of their visa and depart the US before the date their visa expires will be refunded the bond payment. Additionally, travelers who apply for the visa and are denied or do not travel to the US before the visa expires will be refunded their bond payment as well. On the other hand, travelers who breach their visa terms—including staying past their visa authorization date—will forfeit the bond amount. More than 500,000 travelers overstayed their US visas in 2023, according to DHS data.
What else do travelers need to know?
Travelers from each of the countries under the visa bond policy list will need to enter through one of three US airports approved to participate in the program, which currently includes: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
More countries could continue to be added or removed from the list on a rolling basis, according to the federal register notice.
This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
