Washington: The Trump administration has significantly expanded the list of countries whose citizens must post refundable bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for visas to enter the United States, according to a notice on the US State Department website.

Less than a week after adding seven countries to the visa bond requirement, the State Department on Tuesday announced that 25 more countries will be added, bringing the total to 38 nations subject to the bond policy. The new requirements will take effect on January 21, 2026.

The move is part of a broader effort by the administration to tighten US immigration policy and strengthen compliance with visa conditions. All travellers from the listed countries applying for B1/B2 visitor visas for tourism or business may be required to post a bond determined by consular officers at the visa interview.

The bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 are intended to deter visa overstays. However, critics warn that the high costs could make obtaining a US visa prohibitively expensive for many applicants. The bond payment does not guarantee a visa will be granted; it is refundable if a visa is denied or if the holder complies with its terms.

Newly added countries (Effective from January 21, 2026)

The 25 nations newly subject to the visa bond requirement include Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

These join an existing list that already included Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Turkmenistan and Zambia, most of which are in Africa.

Visa bond policy details

Under the pilot programme announced by the State Department, applicants must also submit Form I-352 and pay via the US Treasury’s Pay.gov system when directed by a consular officer. Visa holders who post bonds must enter and depart the United States through designated airports.

The expanded visa bond rules form part of a wider set of entry and immigration measures that include mandatory in-person visa interviews, detailed travel and social media disclosures, and heightened screening protocols for non-immigrant visa applicants.

AP