Travelers from a dozen more countries could soon have to put down thousands of dollars in cash just to visit the United States. The State Department quietly updated its visa-bond list on March 18, 2026, tacking on 12 nations whose B‑1/B‑2 (business and tourist) applicants may be asked to post refundable bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. The expansion is set to kick in April 2 and builds on a one‑year pilot the department launched last year.
Which countries were added and when
According to the State Department, the new additions are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia. For travelers holding passports from those countries, the bond requirement is scheduled to start on April 2, 2026. With this update, the public list now covers 50 countries in total, the notice states.
How the bond works and the legal basis
The requirement comes from a temporary final rule that set up a 12‑month pilot program and invokes consular authority under INA section 221(g)(3). That provision lets consular officers use their discretion to require what is known as a “maintenance of status and departure” bond. The rule, published in the Federal Register, locks in three possible bond amounts, explains that payments must go through the Treasury Department’s Pay.gov system, and lays out when bonds can be cancelled or forfeited.
What the State Department is saying
Officials argue the experiment is doing what it is supposed to do, namely cut down on overstays and help recoup enforcement costs. In reporting from FOX 10 Phoenix, the department said the program has been effective so far and pointed to its own numbers, noting that almost 97% of roughly 1,000 travelers who posted bonds did not overstay their visas.
Why it matters locally and diplomatically
Immigration attorneys and advocacy groups say the policy risks turning routine visits into a high-dollar gamble. They warn it could shut out low‑income travelers, make family visits and small‑business trips tougher to pull off, and spark tit‑for‑tat measures from governments whose citizens are being asked to tie up thousands in cash. The policy has already been broadened multiple times since the pilot began in 2025, a rollout that triggered both coverage and criticism from several countries and travel industry groups, according to reporting by The Associated Press.
What travelers should do now
For travelers who do get hit with a bond requirement, the process will feel more like paying a tax bill than booking a vacation. If a consular officer instructs you to post a bond, you should only pay through the official link sent by the embassy or consulate and then complete Form I‑352 on Treasury’s Pay.gov portal. The State Department specifically warns applicants not to use any third‑party websites for bond payments.
Keep copies of your Pay.gov receipt and the written notice from the consulate. Bonds are refundable if your visa is denied or if you follow the terms of your stay and depart on time. Anyone being told to put up a large bond may want to ask detailed questions at the consulate or seek legal advice before sending money.
