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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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The Trump administration is looking to expand a $15,000 bond requirement for certain visa applicants, increasing the list of countries to 50, Reuters first reported Wednesday.
The U.S. State Department later revealed the changes to B1 and B2 visas would affect 12 new countries.
The visas are for business and tourism, and the bonds, which were introduced in 2025, are designed to prevent holders from overstaying their visas.
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Over the past year, the Trump administration has made multiple changes to the legal immigration system, arguing that visa programs have been abused and lack strict enough scrutiny of applicants. While much of the focus has been on the work-based H-1B visa, the State Department has tightened screening for other visa categories, including expanding requirements for embassy interviews and social media vetting, and introducing higher fees.
List of Countries Added to Visa Bond Program
The following countries will be added to the bond program on April 2, 2026:
- Cambodia
- Ethiopia
- Georgia
- Grenada
- Lesotho
- Mauritius
- Mongolia
- Mozambique
- Nicaragua
- Papua New Guinea
- Seychelles
- Tunisia
The Trump administration had already imposed bonds on 37 other countries in 2025, including Cuba, Burundi, and Namibia in January 2026, and Tanzania and Zambia in 2025.
The State Department said that bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 could be applied to B1 and B2 applicants at the time of their interview, and that temporary immigrants should not pay unless a consular officer has directed them to do so. If a B1 or B2 visa holder from these countries leaves the United States before their visa expires, then their bond will be canceled, and the money returned to them.
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April 2026 Visa Bulletin: Other Changes Coming to Green Card Applicants
On Tuesday, the State Department also released a wider update on immigration through its monthly visa bulletin. The April 2026 edition was released as demand continues to outpace the limited number of visas available under federal law.
The bulletin reflects the annual limits set by Congress—226,000 family‑sponsored visas and at least 140,000 employment‑based visas worldwide—along with strict per‑country caps that often create long waits.
When demand exceeds supply, cut‑off dates are imposed, and the State Department cautions that forward movement in one month does not guarantee continued progress later in the fiscal year.
For immigrants applying for permanent residency from India and China, the application window has moved up, opening up the chance for green cards. The cut-off dates for some work-based applications moved forward by several months, in part because fewer original visas are being issued at U.S. embassies and consulates.
Update 3/18/26, 12:16 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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