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Visa Bond Pilot Program for B-1/B-2 Visa Applicants
Contributor: Van T. Doan
Effective August 20, 2025, the U.S. State Department began testing a system through which certain people applying for visas to visit the U.S. must post a cash bond before the visa is issued. This pilot program will run through August 5, 2026, but it could be extended.
What is the bond requirement, and why is it being imposed?
It’s the rough equivalent of a security deposit for visitors to the United States. If they do everything they are supposed to, like leaving the U.S. when they are supposed to, or taking the proper steps to extend or change their status if they want to stay, they get their bond back. If they overstay their visa, they will forfeit the bond.
The purpose of the bond is to reduce visa overstays by people who are authorized only for a limited visit to the United States.
How much is the bond?
Consular officers exercise discretion to require the bond. If required, the amount of the bond may be as little as $5,000, or as much as $15,000. The amount is decided on a case-by-case basis by a consular officer, depending on factors like the purpose of the applicant’s trip, their employment status, income, education, and so on. Bond payments are made online via the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov system, using Form I-352 after payment is ordered by the consular officer.
Which visas are affected?
At this time, only B-1 visas (business visitors) and B-2 visas (tourist) are the only ones affected. Business visitors are those who come to the U.S for purposes such as attending a business meeting or conference, negotiating contracts, attending professional conventions, or settling estates. Business visitors on these visas cannot work for pay in the U.S.; the visa is for a business visit only.
B-2 or tourist visas allow visitors to vacation or sightsee in the U.S., visit friends or family, or receive medical treatment. They may take non-degree, short educational courses, but cannot study long-term, enroll in a degree program, or work on a B-2 visa. Visitors to the U.S. who hold a valid visa from before the program was imposed are not subject to the bond requirement; it is not retroactive.
What countries are affected?
At this time, the bond requirement applies only to visitors from Malawi and Zambia, but that could change. An attempt at a similar requirement during the first Trump administration included more countries, mostly in Africa. About 2,000 bond applicants are expected to be affected by the program in 2025.
What are some of the potential impacts, both positive and negative, of this program?
The government says that imposing a bond will discourage people from overstaying their visas; after all, if there is money at stake, visitors may have more incentive to follow the rules. The government also asserts that the program will help target visas from countries that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has determined to have higher overstay rates or weaker document security. It’s important to remember that this is a pilot program, not a permanent policy measure. As such, it is intended to collect data on how feasible a bond requirement is, including the cost and challenges of administration. However, the government could decide to make it permanent .
Opponents of the visa bond pilot program point out that the bond amounts of $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000 represent a significant burden from low income countries like Malawi and Zambia. The requirement would make it much more difficult to visit the United States, effectively limiting access to B-1/B-2 visas to the wealthy. In general, critics say, the requirement will lead to inequalities, disproportionately affecting people from poorer countries or less affluent backgrounds. In addition, the discretion of consular officers as to the amount of the bond creates uncertainty and unpredictability for travelers, which may further discourage travel to the U.S.
All of this is to say nothing of the operational complexity of the bond program. Government agencies will need to handle payments, monitor compliance, and track forfeitures or issue refunds. It’s not clear whether this administrative burden will be worth any benefit from the program. The bond program could also lead to diplomatic issues, particularly if it is expanded to more countries. If the countries subject to a bond requirement find the requirement burdensome, it could negatively affect tourism and trade with the United States.
What’s the Bottom Line?
If you are thinking about applying for a B-1 or B-2 visa from Malawi or Zambia, you should assume that you may have to pay a bond of at least $5,000 before your visa can be issued. If you are from another African country, you should be on the lookout for expansions of the visa bond pilot program that could affect your visits to the U.S. To learn more about the current visa bond pilot program for B-1 or B-2 applicants, contact our law office to schedule a consultation.