Tourists and enterprise vacationers from dozens of countries will face steep new charges to enter the United States by the top of January, in accordance to the State Department.
The Trump administration first launched the brand new visa bond pilot program in August of final yr, requiring vacationers and business travelers to put up bond funds of up to $15,000 so as to go to the US. Currently, the coverage applies to residents from 13 nations. Now, the Trump administration says it plans on including one other 25 international locations to the checklist by the top of January.
Starting on January 21, 2026, the visa bond coverage is anticipated to apply to a complete of 38 international locations. Several of the nations being added to the visa bond coverage additionally fall below the Trump administration’s partial journey ban, an inventory that was expanded in December 2025 and narrowly limits the sorts of visas issued to these nations’ residents. Here’s the whole lot vacationers want to know in regards to the expanded coverage, together with this system’s refund pointers and airport restrictions.
Which international locations are included within the visa bond pilot program?
Visa bonds are at the moment required for residents of the next international locations, in accordance 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 one other 25 international locations to the visa bond checklist later this month, efficient January 21. Those international locations embody:
- 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 sorts of visas are affected?
The coverage applies to all B1 and B2 visas, that are for enterprise, tourism, or a mixture of each and are usually legitimate for six months to a yr. For now, the bonds within the pilot program will not apply to student visas, which might be legitimate for a number of years, or different visa varieties.
The visa bond pilot program is slated to final 12 months, in accordance to the initial notice revealed within the federal register.
How a lot are the visa bonds?
Citizens touring from the listed international locations on B1 and B2 visas will want to pay a visa bond within the quantity of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 so as to enter the US. The quantity a person is required to pay is set by officers on the time of visa software overview.
The bond quantity every visa applicant will probably be required to put up will probably 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 discover states. Guidance within the paperwork reveals that consular officers will probably be suggested to set the bond at $10,000 normally. Visa candidates will obtain a State Department e-mail to the tackle offered on their software with the hyperlink to put up their bond quantity by way of the US Treasury’s Pay.Gov service.
Will the visa bonds be refunded?
Travelers who adjust to the phrases of their visa and depart the US earlier than the date their visa expires will probably be refunded the bond cost. (*38*), vacationers who apply for the visa and are denied or don’t journey to the US earlier than the visa expires will probably be refunded their bond cost as properly. On the opposite hand, vacationers who breach their visa phrases—together with staying previous their visa authorization date—will forfeit the bond quantity. More than 500,000 vacationers overstayed their US visas in 2023, in accordance to DHS information.
What else do vacationers want to know?
Travelers from every of the international locations below the visa bond coverage checklist will want to enter by means of one among three US airports accredited to take part in this system, which at the moment consists of: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
More international locations might proceed to be added or faraway from the checklist on a rolling foundation, in accordance to the federal register discover.
This story has been up to date with new data since its authentic publish date.