The B-1/B-2 Visa Bond Pilot Program: What It Is, Who's Affected, and How It Works

What the Visa Bond Pilot Program is

The Visa Bond Pilot Program is a 12-month State Department initiative authorized by INA §221(g)(3), which has long given consular officers discretion to require visa bonds. The Department of State formalized this authority into a structured pilot through a Temporary Final Rule published on August 5, 2025, with the program taking effect August 20, 2025.

The bond is a Maintenance of Status and Departure Bond — a refundable monetary deposit posted as a condition of visa issuance. Its purpose is to discourage overstays and unauthorized employment by holders of visitor visas from countries identified as having compliance concerns. If the visitor complies with all conditions and departs on time, the bond is refunded. If they overstay or violate status, the bond may be forfeited.

Pilot timeline

• August 5, 2025 — Temporary Final Rule published in Federal Register
• August 20, 2025 — Pilot takes effect; initial covered countries announced
• December 17, 2025 — Seven countries added (effective January 1, 2026)
• January 8, 2026 — Twenty-plus countries added (effective January 21, 2026)
• March 18, 2026 — Twelve countries added (effective April 2, 2026)
• August 5, 2026 — Pilot scheduled to end (unless extended)

Which countries are covered

The list has expanded multiple times since the pilot launched. As of May 2026, the following countries are subject to the bond requirement for B-1/B-2 applicants:

Why these countries were selected

The State Department identifies countries for inclusion based on three criteria:

• High B-1/B-2 visa overstay rates as reported by Department of Homeland Security data;
• Inadequate screening or vetting information from the country; or
• Citizenship-by-investment programs that grant citizenship without meaningful residency requirements.

Bond amounts

The bond amount is determined by the consular officer at the visa interview. The pilot establishes three tiers:

The consular officer's determination considers risk factors such as the applicant's travel history, financial circumstances, prior immigration history, ties to the home country, and other case-specific factors. The bond is in addition to the standard B-1/B-2 visa application fee — it does not replace it.

Who is — and isn't — subject

Subject to the bond

• Nationals of covered countries applying for B-1/B-2 visitor visas
• The bond requirement is determined country-by-country and case-by-case at the consular officer's discretion
• Even within a covered country, the consular officer may decide not to require a bond if the applicant's circumstances warrant it

NOT subject to the bond

• All other nonimmigrant visa categories. The pilot applies only to B-1 and B-2. It does not apply to F (student), M (vocational student), J (exchange visitor), H (work), L (intracompany transferee), O (extraordinary ability), or any other nonimmigrant category.
• Visa Waiver Program travelers. Citizens of the 41 VWP countries don't apply for visas to the U.S. for short tourism or business trips, so the bond doesn't apply.
• Nationals of countries not on the covered list.

How the process works

1. Apply for the B-1/B-2 visa normally

   Submit DS-160, pay the visa application fee, schedule and attend the consular interview. The standard B-1/B-2 application process is unchanged.

2. Consular officer makes the bond determination

   If the applicant is a national of a covered country and is otherwise eligible for the visa, the consular officer may require a bond. The decision and the amount ($5,000, $10,000, or $15,000) are made at the interview.

3. Receive notice of bond requirement

   The applicant is informed at or shortly after the interview that a bond is required. The visa is conditionally approved pending posting of the bond.

4. Submit Form I-352 within 30 days

   Within 30 days of the bond notice, the applicant or sponsor submits DHS Form I-352, Immigration Bond, agreeing to the terms of the bond.

5. Pay the bond via Pay.gov

   Payment is made through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's online payment platform at Pay.gov. The bond is held in a Treasury-administered DHS account.

6. Visa is issued

   Once the bond is posted and the I-352 accepted, the consulate issues the B-1/B-2 visa. The visa is conditional on the bond remaining in good standing.

7. Travel to the U.S. and comply with terms

   The visitor enters the U.S., stays within the period authorized by CBP at the port of entry, and complies with all visa conditions. No unauthorized employment, no overstay, no status violations.

8. Depart on time and request refund

   The visitor departs the U.S. before the authorized stay expires. After departure, the bond holder may request a refund of the bond by demonstrating compliance.

Form I-352 and Pay.gov

The administrative mechanics involve two pieces:

Form I-352 — Immigration Bond

The DHS form that formalizes the bond agreement. It identifies the bonded individual, the obligor (the person or entity posting the bond), the amount, and the terms. It must be submitted within 30 days of the bond notice.

Pay.gov payment

The bond is paid electronically through Pay.gov, the U.S. Treasury's online payment platform. The funds are deposited into a Treasury-held DHS account and held for the duration of the visa validity and any time the visa holder is in the U.S.

When the bond is refunded — and when it's forfeited

The bond is refunded when

• The visitor departs the United States before the period authorized by CBP at the port of entry expires
• The visitor does not engage in unauthorized employment
• The visitor does not commit any other violation of B-1/B-2 status
• The bond holder submits proof of compliance and requests the refund

The bond may be forfeited when

• The visitor overstays the authorized period of admission
• The visitor engages in unauthorized employment
• The visitor commits status violations or fraud
• Other conditions of the bond agreement are breached

Forfeiture is not automatic — the government must initiate proceedings — but breach of the bond terms creates the basis for forfeiture and is a significant immigration consequence on top of any immediate enforcement action.

What happens when the pilot ends

The Visa Bond Pilot Program is scheduled to end August 5, 2026. The Federal Register notice establishing the pilot makes the following points about its conclusion:

• After August 5, 2026, the State Department will no longer require new bonds under this temporary final rule (absent extension or a new rule).
• Bonds already posted under the pilot remain in effect until they are either breached or properly cancelled in accordance with their terms.
• Visas issued under the pilot remain valid according to their original terms.
• The underlying INA §221(g)(3) authority remains in place — consular officers can require bonds at their discretion even without a formal pilot program.

Common questions