US Visa Bond Programme Now Permanent: Countries Affected, Bond Amount and India’s Status

US Makes Visa Bond Programme Permanent: Who Must Pay Up to $20,000 and Is India Included?

The United States has made its visa bond programme permanent, allowing consular officers to require certain foreign nationals applying for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visas to deposit a refundable bond of up to $20,000 before a visa is issued.

The policy, which takes effect on August 3, expands a pilot programme introduced in 2025 and is aimed at discouraging visa overstays. It applies to applicants from 50 countries, though India is not among them.

What Is the Visa Bond Programme?

The visa bond programme gives US consular officers the authority to require eligible applicants for B-1 and B-2 visas to deposit a financial bond before travelling to the United States.

The bond serves as a guarantee that the traveller will comply with US immigration rules, including leaving the country before the authorised period of stay expires.

According to the Federal Register, the bond amount can be as high as $20,000, with the exact figure decided on a case-by-case basis.

Why Has the Programme Been Made Permanent?

The programme was first introduced as a pilot in 2025 to determine whether financial bonds could help reduce visa overstays.

According to the US government, the pilot produced enough evidence to support making the policy permanent.

“The 2025 visa bond pilot… has provided sufficient data to suggest that a visa bond program is an effective tool for enforcing compliance among bonded visa holders,” the Federal Register notice said.

Who Will Be Required to Pay?

The permanent programme covers citizens of 50 countries applying for B-1 and B-2 visas. Most of the countries on the list are in Africa, though Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan are also included.

However, the bond is not mandatory for every applicant. Consular officers will decide, based on individual circumstances, whether a visa applicant must furnish a bond before a visa is granted.

Is India Included?

No. India is not among the 50 countries covered under the permanent visa bond programme.

As a result, Indian citizens applying for US business or tourist visas will not be required to deposit a visa bond under the current rules.

However, the US State Department has indicated that the list of eligible countries may be revised in the future.

What’s Different From the Pilot Programme?

The permanent policy introduces higher financial requirements than the 2025 pilot.

Under the pilot scheme, consular officers could require bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000.

The new rule removes the $5,000 option and raises the maximum bond amount to $20,000, giving consular officers greater flexibility in determining the amount based on each applicant’s case.