US Visa Rule: $15,000 Security Deposit Required With Application; List of 38 Countries Included
January 8, 2026 | By: Dr. Syed Habeeb Imam Quadri
The US government under the Trump administration has added 25 more countries to its visa bond list, taking the total number to 38 countries. Citizens of these countries will now have to deposit a security bond of up to $15,000 while applying for a US visa.
This announcement was made on Tuesday on the official website of the US Department of State.
Most of the countries on this list are from Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. Earlier, only seven countries were included, but the list has grown to 38 within the past week.
According to the US State Department, the new rule will apply to citizens of the newly added countries from January 21.
The list also includes Venezuela, where the US recently carried out a military operation during which former leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife were reportedly detained.
How much bond will applicants have to pay?
As per the US State Department, any citizen traveling on a passport issued by these 38 countries and applying for a B1 (business) or B2 (tourist) visa may be asked to deposit a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000.
The exact amount will be decided during the visa interview.
Applicants must agree to the bond payment terms listed on Pay.gov, the official payment platform of the US Treasury.
The State Department has clearly stated:
- No third-party websites can be used to pay the bond
- The US government will not be responsible for payments made through third parties
- If someone pays the bond without instructions from a consular officer, the money will not be refunded
Once the consular officer asks for the bond, the applicant will receive a direct payment link. Officials have also clarified that paying the bond does not guarantee a visa approval.
Why is the visa bond required?
The US government says the main purpose of the bond is to prevent visa holders from overstaying beyond the permitted time.
After taking office in January last year, former President Donald Trump adopted a strict immigration policy. This included mass deportations, visa and green card cancellations, and checking applicants’ social media posts and past speeches.
Entry and exit only through three airports
Applicants who pay the visa bond will be allowed to enter and leave the US only through these three airports:
- Boston Logan International Airport
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)
- Washington Dulles International Airport
If travelers do not follow this rule, they may be denied entry or their exit may not be properly recorded.
When will the bond be cancelled and refunded?
The bond amount will be automatically cancelled and refunded if:
- The visa holder leaves the US within the permitted stay and the exit is recorded by Homeland Security
- The visa holder does not travel to the US before the visa expires
- The visa holder is denied entry and sent back from the US airport itself
What happens if bond rules are violated?
If a visa holder violates bond conditions, the Department of Homeland Security will send the case to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for review.
Violations may include:
- Staying beyond the allowed period
- Remaining in the US after visa expiry
- Applying for asylum or changing non-immigrant status
Some countries included in the list of 38:
Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cuba, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Nepal, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
