B‑visa bond program expanded
The State Department expanded its B-1/B-2 visa bond pilot to require refundable bonds from applicants in roughly 50 countries — bonds typically range $5,000–$15,000 and are refundable only if the traveler departs on time. The move is explicitly framed as an overstay deterrent and adds new financial hurdles for visitor applicants from affected nations. ( )
The March 18 State Department fact sheet names the 12 countries added with an April 2, 2026 implementation date: Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia. (state.gov) The pilot was established by a Temporary Final Rule that went into effect August 20, 2025 and is scheduled to run through August 5, 2026, with consular officers authorized to impose bonds based on factors like high overstay rates, deficient screening, or citizenship‑by‑investment concerns. (federalregister.gov) Visas issued under the pilot carry operational limits — single entry, validity up to three months, and a maximum 30‑day authorized stay — and the decision to require a bond is made on a case‑by‑case basis during the consular interview. (fragomen.com) Applicants directed to post a bond must submit DHS Form I‑352 and pay only through the Treasury’s Pay.gov portal after explicit consular instruction; payments made through third‑party sites are not covered for refund. (travel.state.gov) The list of acceptable ports of entry for bonded travelers has been expanded to include all commercial airports of entry — including CBP preclearance locations — while excluding charter/general aviation and land or sea ports for purposes of refund eligibility and compliance tracking. (bal.com) The State Department reports that nearly 1,000 travelers have received visas under the pilot with a roughly 97% on‑time return rate, and the agency cited average removal costs and projected taxpayer savings figures in its March 18 materials. (state.gov) Major immigration practice groups and firms have posted client advisories and operational alerts detailing interview‑stage procedures, bond posting mechanics, refund timing, and itinerary constraints for bonded applicants. (fragomen.com)
