US Adds 12 Countries to Visa Bond List as Visitor Costs Rise

The US is expanding its visa bond program again, adding 12 more countries to a policy that allows consular officers to require some travelers to post up to $15,000 before receiving a visitor visa.

The expansion takes effect on April 2 and raises the total number of affected countries to 50. The policy is designed to reduce visa overstays, but it also adds cost and uncertainty for travelers at a time when the US travel industry is still trying to rebuild inbound demand.

Which countries were added and what the rule means

On March 18, the State Department said the latest additions to the program are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia.

Citizens of those countries applying for B-1 or B-2 visas may now be asked to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. These visas are mainly used for short business trips and tourism.

The amount is decided during the visa interview, and the money is refundable if the traveler follows the visa rules and leaves the US on time.

The bond does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. It is an extra condition that can be added after the applicant is otherwise found eligible for the visa.

How the overstay policy works

The visa bond system is part of a pilot program aimed at countries with relatively high rates of visa overstays. In other words, the government is trying to reduce the number of travelers who enter legally but remain in the country longer than allowed.

The program gives consular officers more discretion during the visa process. Not every traveler from a listed country will automatically have to pay a bond, but the possibility alone makes the process more difficult and more expensive for some visitors.

Travelers who post bonds must use commercial air ports of entry, including preclearance locations. They cannot use land borders, sea ports, charter aircraft, or general aviation.

Visitor demand could face more pressure

The policy affects regular visitor travel, not a narrow or unusual category. B-1 and B-2 visas cover business trips, family visits, and leisure travel. These travelers support international air service, hotel stays, attractions, restaurants, and local transport.

The US has been trying to strengthen inbound tourism ahead of a major 2026 travel year, when the country is expected to receive more global attention because of the FIFA World Cup and other major events. Adding another financial barrier may not stop travel completely, but it can delay bookings, discourage some trips, and make the US look less convenient than competing destinations.

World Cup adds more attention to the issue

The policy has drawn extra interest because Tunisia, one of the 12 newly added countries, has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Other African teams already on the visa bond list include Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal.

This does not mean fans from those countries cannot travel to the US. But it does mean some may face a more expensive and less predictable visa process while planning travel for one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

US keeps tightening entry rules as tourism recovery remains fragile

The latest confirmed change is the April 2 expansion to 50 countries, but the government has said the list can be updated over time.

Meanwhile, the US travel slowdown shows that international arrivals were already being affected by a mix of political uncertainty, stricter entry rules, and weaker sentiment in some overseas markets.

Even a targeted visa policy can add to the perception that visiting the US is becoming more complicated, just as the country is trying to attract more international travelers ahead of a major 2026 event cycle.

Photo by Miguel M. on Unsplash