The Department of State has started a 12-month Visa Bond Pilot Program for business and tourist visitors (B-1/B-2). It runs from August 20, 2025, through August 5, 2026. Under this program, certain visa applicants will need to post a cash bond before they can get their visa.
Only B-1/B-2 applicants from specific countries will be subject this requirement. To be on the list, a country must meet at least one of these conditions:
Right now, only Malawi and Zimbabwe are on the list. More countries may be added as the program progresses.
To keep things fair, bonds come in three levels:
A bond acts like an insurance policy. If a visitor overstays, the U.S. government can use the bond money to cover removal costs. If the visitor leaves on time and follows all visa rules, the bond is fully refunded.
