Washington/Internet/Hyderabad, Oct 3 (Maxim News): India has been excluded from the US visa bond requirement expanded to 50 countries for applicants seeking B1/B2 business and tourist visas.
The US State Department has published an updated list of countries whose nationals must post a visa bond if they are otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa. Applicants from the listed countries may be required to post $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, with the amount decided by a consular officer during the visa interview.
Indian passport holders are not covered by the bond requirement. Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal are among the South Asian countries on the list. Bangladesh and Nepal were added with an implementation date of January 21, 2026, while Bhutan’s requirement took effect on January 1.
US Visa Bond Rule and Travel Restrictions
The programme operates under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The State Department said the countries covered are identified using B1/B2 visa overstay rates from the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report.
Applicants subject to the requirement must complete DHS Form I-352 and agree to the bond terms through Pay.gov. The department has warned applicants not to make any payment until a consular officer directs them to do so.
The bond can be paid by the applicant or by a third party, such as a relative, friend or business associate. The person who posts the bond receives the refund if the terms are not breached.
However, paying the bond does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.
Travellers who post a visa bond also face restrictions on their entry and departure routes. They must use commercial air ports of entry, including eligible Customs and Border Protection preclearance locations.
They cannot use charter aircraft, general aviation, land borders or seaports for entry or departure under the programme. Potential violations can be referred to US Citizenship and Immigration Services for a determination on whether the bond has been breached.
The State Department’s current list includes countries across Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia and the Pacific in addition to the South Asian countries covered by the programme.
For Indian travellers, the latest update means the new financial bond requirement does not apply to holders of Indian passports seeking B1/B2 visas. Regular US visa eligibility and application requirements continue to apply.
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