The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump will require citizens from 50 countries to post a refundable US $15,000 bond when applying for B‑1 (business) or B‑2 (tourism) visas, a U.S. State Department official said on March 18.
The expanded visa bond program, which takes effect on April 2, 2026, adds 12 new countries to the list of nations whose citizens must pay the bond before receiving a U.S. visa. Those newly included are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia.
The policy aims to reduce the number of visitors who overstay their visas in the United States. According to the official, the bonds are returned in full to applicants who either comply with the terms of their visa and depart the U.S. on time, or who choose not to travel at all.
The expanded list now covers citizens from 50 countries, up from 38 previously, with most existing countries located in Africa and some in Asia and the Caribbean.
This move is part of a broader hard‑line immigration strategy pursued by Trump’s administration, which has also included heightened visa screenings, deportation policies, and travel bans for certain nations. Human rights groups have criticized the bond requirement, saying it could restrict lawful travel and undermine due process. The administration defends it as a necessary step to improve national security and ensure compliance with visa rules.