The U.S. will require visa bonds up to $15,000 from citizens of 12 new countries starting April 2, 2026, to reduce overstays.

The U.S. will require citizens from 12 additional countries—Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia—to post a refundable visa bond of up to $15,000 when applying for B1 or B2 visas, effective April 2, 2026. The expansion brings the total number of affected countries to 50, primarily in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, and is part of a broader effort under the Trump administration to reduce visa overstays. The bond is refunded if the visa is denied or the applicant complies with terms. The State Department says the program has seen nearly 97% compliance among participants and has helped lower overstay rates.