This final rule is effective August 3, 2026

The Department of State has identified nationals from roughly 50 designated high-overstay countries that will be subject to visa bonds:

• Algeria (January 21, 2026)
• Angola (January 21, 2026)
• Antigua and Barbuda (January 21, 2026)
• Bangladesh (January 21, 2026)
• Benin (January 21, 2026)
• Bhutan (January 1, 2026)
• Botswana (January 1, 2026)
• Burundi (January 21, 2026)
• Cabo Verde (January 21, 2026)
• Cambodia (April 2, 2026)
• Central African Republic (January 1, 2026)
• Cote D’Ivoire (January 21, 2026)
• Cuba (January 21, 2026)
• Djibouti (January 21, 2026)
• Dominica (January 21, 2026)
• Ethiopia (April 2, 2026)
• Fiji (January 21, 2026)
• Gabon (January 21, 2026)
• The Gambia (October 11, 2025)
• Georgia (April 2, 2026)
• Grenada (April 2, 2026)
• Guinea (January 1, 2026)
• Guinea-Bissau (January 1, 2026)
• Kyrgyz Republic (January 21, 2026)
• Lesotho (April 2, 2026)
• Malawi (August 20, 2025)
• Mauritania (October 23, 2025)
• Mauritius (April 2, 2026)
• Mongolia (April 2, 2026)
• Mozambique (April 2, 2026)
• Namibia (January 1, 2026)
• Nepal (January 21, 2026)
• Nicaragua (April 2, 2026)
• Nigeria (January 21, 2026)
• Papua New Guinea (April 2, 2026)
• Sao Tome and Principe (October 23, 2025)
• Senegal (January 21, 2026)
• Seychelles (April 2, 2026)
• Tajikistan (January 21, 2026)
• Tanzania (October 23, 2025)
• Togo (January 21, 2026)
• Tonga (January 21, 2026)
• Tunisia (April 2, 2026)
• Turkmenistan (January 1, 2026)
• Tuvalu (January 21, 2026)
• Uganda (January 21, 2026)
• Vanuatu (January 21, 2026)
• Venezuela (January 21, 2026)
• Zambia (August 20, 2025) 
• Zimbabwe (January 21, 2026)

An alien applying for a visa as a temporary visitor for business or pleasure (B-1/B-2) may be required to submit a bond (visa bond) to ensure that the alien maintains his or her nonimmigrant status and departs as required. Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers.

Visa overstay rates are based on the B1/B2 overstay rates per the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report.

Any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, may be required to submit a bond to ensure that the alien maintains his or her nonimmigrant status and departs as required. Consular officers may require visa applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers during the visa interview.

The applicant must also submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352.  Applicants must agree to the terms of the bond through the Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform Pay.gov.  This requirement applies regardless of place of application.

The deposit is fully refunded if the traveler adheres to their nonimmigrant status, departs the U.S. on time, or files a proper extension/change of status.

The money is forfeited if the visitor overstays their authorized time or applies for unauthorized humanitarian or asylum status while in the country.

Federal Notice:  https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-15726.pdf