August 20, 2025 · Program update

U.S. Visa Bond Program launches: Malawi and Zambia are the first countries subject to bonds

On August 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State launched its Visa Bond Program pilot. Citizens of Malawi and Zambia who are found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visitor visa must now post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 before their visa can be issued.

The program operates under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and a Temporary Final Rule, and targets countries with elevated visa overstay rates. The State Department signaled that more countries would follow — and they did.

Countries added August 20, 2025

What this means for applicants

• If your B1/B2 visa is approved, the consular officer may require a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 ($10,000 is the default) before the visa is issued.
• You have 30 days to post the bond — miss the window and the visa application is cancelled.
• The bond is filed via DHS Form I-352 and paid through the U.S. Treasury's Pay.gov.
• Bond holders must enter and exit the U.S. through commercial airports; the bond is automatically cancelled when you depart on time.
• You don't have to lock up the money yourself — VisaBond posts the bond for you for a one-time fee.

Source: U.S. Department of State — Countries Subject to Visa Bonds.