US makes visa bond program permanent for 50 countries

The US State Department has made its visa bond programme permanent, allowing consular officers to require eligible applicants from 50 countries to post bonds of up to $20,000 before receiving a business or tourist visa.

The policy takes effect on August 3, 2025, and currently applies to citizens of 50 countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan; India is not on the list.

The decision follows a year-long pilot and a review that found the programme helped improve compliance with visa conditions, according to a Federal Register notice.

Additional countries could be added to the programme in the future, the US government indicated.