US Makes $20,000 Visa Bond Rule Permanent for Citizens of 50 Countries

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The United States has made permanent a policy that allows consular officers to collect a visa bond from citizens of 50 designated countries when they apply for tourist and business visas.

The new regulation took effect on 3 August 2026, according to a official notice published by the US Department of State in the Federal Register.

Under the updated rules, when processing non-immigrant visas in the B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) categories, consular officers may, at their discretion, require applicants to post a refundable visa bond of up to US$20,000 as a prerequisite for visa issuance.

The funds serve as a financial guarantee that the applicant will maintain their non-immigrant status and depart the United States in a timely manner.

The policy follows a pilot program launched in August 2025. Under the initial framework, consular officers could set bond amounts at $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, which were returned once the traveler exited the United States within their authorized period of stay.

State Department officials stated that the pilot project provided sufficient data demonstrating the effectiveness of financial bonds as a mechanism for enforcing visa compliance and curbing overstays. Under the permanent program, the minimum $5,000 tier has been eliminated, leaving tier options at $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000.

The roster of designated nations subject to the bond rule comprises 50 countries, including Central Asian neighbors Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan was not included on the list.