The United States has expanded its visa bond programme to include Grenada and 11 other countries, according to Antigua News Room, bringing the total number of nationalities subject to the requirement to 50.
Effective April 2, 2026, nationals from Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia may be required to post a financial bond in order to obtain a B1/B2 business or tourist visa. A U.S. diplomatic update released on March 18 confirmed the additions.
"The State Department is keeping America's borders secure and preventing visa overstays. Nationals from 50 countries will soon be required to provide a $15,000 bond for business and tourist visas – returned to those who comply with their visa terms and return home on time," the U.S. Department of State announced.
The bond amount is not fixed. Consular officers determine during the interview process whether a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 is required. Applicants must submit Form I-352 from the Department of Homeland Security and accept bond conditions through Pay.gov, the U.S. Treasury's official platform.
Authorities have issued several important clarifications. No payment should be made through third-party websites, and any bond paid without prior instruction from a consular officer is non-refundable. Critically, posting a bond does not guarantee visa issuance — it is an additional requirement in certain cases, not an automatic right to a visa.
The programme does not affect visa-exempt travellers, who continue to enter the United States under the ESTA electronic travel authorisation system without any bond requirement.
Washington has framed the initiative as a measure to reduce visa overstays, citing the Department of Homeland Security's annual Entry/Exit Overstay Report. As reported by Antigua News Room, a State Department official stated, according to Reuters, that the programme has already contributed to a decline in overstay rates.
Visa holders subject to a bond face restrictions on how they may enter and exit the country. The Department of State specifies that such travellers must use commercial airports, including CBP preclearance locations, for both arrival and departure. Land borders, sea crossings, charter flights, and general aviation are excluded. Failure to comply may result in denied entry or an improperly recorded departure, potentially complicating any bond refund.
The bond is automatically cancelled and refunded when a traveller departs the United States within the authorised period, when a visa expires unused, or when a traveller is refused admission at the border. However, a late departure, an overstay, or certain actions such as applying for a change of immigration status — including an asylum application — may trigger a review for bond condition violations. Such cases are referred to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for determination.
