U.S. Expands $15,000 Refundable Visa Bond to 50 Countries Effective April 2

Overview

• The State Department added 12 nations to an existing list, bringing the program to 50 countries that include new entries such as Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia.
• The requirement applies to B1/B2 business and tourist visa applicants, with the bond returned to travelers who follow visa terms and depart on time or to those who ultimately do not travel.
• Officials set April 2 as the start date, with the timing first reported by Reuters citing a department official and later posted on the State Department’s official social media account.
• Brazil is not covered by the policy, and the roster remains concentrated in African countries with additions from Asia, Oceania and Latin America.
• The expansion comes alongside higher visa costs, tighter screening and other restrictions under the current administration, while industry data show a 6% drop in foreign visitors in 2025 and a further 4.8% year-over-year decline in January 2026.