New U.S. Visa Policy: Citizens From Select Countries Must Pay Up to $15,000 bonds

The Trump administration has added several countries to a list of nations whose passport holders will be obliged to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the United States. Now the list is comprised of 13 countries, with all but two of them in Africa. The new imposition has made the visa process unaffordable for many.

So, which are the countries that have been added to the list? What does the official update exactly say? In what follows, our EB-1A consultants have analysed and explicated this important update in great detail.

Which countries have been added under this new policy?

Last week, the State Department expanded the already existing list by adding countries such as Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, and Turkmenistan. The updated list is about to take effect from the 1st January, according to a notice posted on the official website.

It would remain the widest immigration curb to date, imposed by the Trump administration, to intensify restrictions for entry to the U.S. Thereby, it falls in line with other recent efforts, including obligatory in-person interview and increased social media vetting and screening.

How is the bond system going to be implemented?

U.S. officials have justified the bond system by arguing that the bonds will eliminate the proclivity of overstaying by the citizens of the targeted countries. The bonds can range from $5,000 to $15,000. However, the payment of the bond does not automatically ensure the approval of the visas. But the amount will be automatically refunded if the visa is declined or when the visa holder remains compliant with all the terms of the visa. To summarize all the conditions:

Posting a bond does not automatically guarantee approval of the visa If the visa is declined, the bond amount will be refunded. If, after the approval of the visa, the visitor demonstrates that they have complied with all the visa terms, the bond will be refunded once again.

Since the bond money is a significant sum, it can stifle a lot of aspirants’ and tourists’ hopes. For instance, clearly, the small business owners, tourists, and students will be at the direct crosshairs of this visa rule.

At GCEB1, our EB-1A consultants are closely monitoring all the latest developments, insights, and transformations in the current immigration landscape. For more detailed and personalized suggestions regarding permanent residency in the U.S., you can directly reach out to us.

Sources & Further Readings

1. Associated Press. “US Expands List Whose Citizens Must Pay Bond to Seek a Visa”AP News, January 5, 2026.
2. Boundless Immigration Blog.“New US Visa Bond Could Cost Travelers Up to $15,000.” Boundless Immigration
3. Lee, Matthew.“U.S. Expands List of Countries Whose Citizens Must Pay Up to $15,000 Bonds to Apply for Visas.” Los Angeles Times, January 5, 2026.