List of Countries Affected by the U.S. Visa Bond Policy

The United States has rolled out a new visa bond requirement that could reshape how citizens from dozens of nations especially in Africa apply for B‑1/B‑2 (business and tourism) visas. Under this directive from the U.S. 

Department of State, nationals of 38 countries may be required to post a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000, or up to $15,000 as part of their visa application process. The goal, according to Washington, is to curb high rates of visa overstays and strengthen immigration compliance.

Crucially, posting the bond does not guarantee a visa, consular officers still make the final decision, and payments made without their express instruction will not be refunded. Nigeria, for example, will begin enforcing this requirement on January 21, 2026. 

Countries Subject to the Visa Bond Requirement

Below is the full list of 38 nations affected by the policy, with official implementation dates where available:

Effective January 21, 2026

1. Algeria
   
2. Angola
   
3. Antigua and Barbuda
   
4. Bangladesh
   
5. Benin
   
6. Burundi
   
7. Cabo Verde
   
8. Côte d’Ivoire
   
9. Cuba
   
10. Djibouti
    
11. Dominica
    
12. Fiji
    
13. Gabon
    
14. Kyrgyzstan
    
15. Nepal
    
16. Nigeria
    
17. Senegal
    
18. Tajikistan
    
19. Togo
    
20. Tonga
    
21. Tuvalu
    
22. Uganda
    
23. Vanuatu
    
24. Venezuela
    
25. Zimbabwe
    

Effective January 1, 2026

26. Bhutan
    
27. Botswana
    
28. Central African Republic
    
29. Guinea
    
30. Guinea‑Bissau
    
31. Namibia
    
32. Turkmenistan
    

Effective October 23, 2025

33. Mauritania
    
34. São Tomé and Príncipe
    
35. Tanzania
    

Effective October 11, 2025

36. The Gambia
    

Effective August 20, 2025

37. Malawi
    
38. Zambia
    

What This Means for Applicants

• Bond amounts are assigned at the visa interview, $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 depending on the officer’s assessment.
  
• Bond payments do not equal visa approval. Even after posting a bond, the visa can still be denied.
  
• Bonds are refunded only if the visa is denied or if the holder complies with all visa conditions and departs the U.S. on time.
  
• Applicants must use official channels (e.g., Pay.gov) and submit Form I‑352 as part of the process.

Why it matters

This policy targets countries with higher visa overstay rates and reflects a broader tightening of U.S. travel and immigration rules. 

Although it’s framed as a compliance tool, critics argue that such high bond amounts could act as financial barriers for legitimate travellers, students, and business visitors from the affected nations.