The U.S. starts a 12-month visa bond program for citizens of The Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia, requiring up to $15,000 refundable bonds for B-1/B-2 visas.

The U.S. has launched a 12-month visa bond pilot program requiring nationals from The Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia to post a refundable bond of up to $15,000 when applying for B-1/B-2 visas, effective August 20, 2025. The program targets countries with high visa overstay rates and mandates travel through Boston, JFK, or Washington Dulles airports. Indian nationals are not included, despite a lower 1.58% overstay rate, and no official plans to expand the program to India or other nations have been announced. The bond is fully refundable if visa terms are met.