How to post your U.S. visa bond: Pay.gov, step by step

If the consular officer approved your B1/B2 visa but required a bond, you have 30 days to post it — or the application is cancelled. There are two routes: deposit the full $5,000–$15,000 yourself through Pay.gov, or have VisaBond fund and file it for you. Here is exactly how each works.

Before you start: what you receive at the interview

When a bond is required, the consulate gives you written instructions with the bond amount and a reference for posting it via DHS Form I-352 on Pay.gov. Keep this document — the reference ties your payment to your visa case. Your visa is not issued until the bond is confirmed.

Route 1: posting the bond yourself

1. Read your instructions carefully. They name the exact Pay.gov channel and reference for your case. Follow them precisely — a payment that can't be matched to your case doesn't stop the 30-day clock.
2. Create a Pay.gov account. Pay.gov is the U.S. Treasury's official payment platform at pay.gov. It is the only legitimate place to pay — treat any other site asking for your bond money as a scam.
3. Complete the Form I-352 details. The obligor (whoever is funding the bond — you, a relative, an employer) agrees to the bond's terms. Names must match passports exactly.
4. Pay the full amount. $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, as set at your interview. The money stays with the Treasury until the bond is cancelled.
5. Save your confirmation. You'll need it if anything about your case needs to be traced, and to reconcile the eventual refund.

The trade-off: your money is frozen for the entire life of the visa and trip, and the refund process only starts after you've complied with the bond's terms.

Route 2: having VisaBond post it

1. Apply online — takes about two minutes. We ask for your name as on your passport, contact details, and the Pay.gov reference from your instructions if you have it.
2. We confirm and file. VisaBond acts as the obligor, funds the full bond, and files it via Form I-352 through Pay.gov — typically within one business day.
3. You travel. Enter and exit by commercial air, leave on time, and the bond cancels automatically. Your only cost is the one-time fee from $999.

Deadlines and pitfalls

• Don't run the 30 days down. Bank transfers can take days to clear; start immediately after your interview.
• Match names exactly. Mismatched passport/obligor details are the most common cause of delays.
• Only pay through Pay.gov. The government never asks for bond money by gift card, wire to an individual, or third-party websites.
• Plan your exit route now. The bond requires entering and leaving through commercial airports — book flights accordingly.

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