In a significant escalation of its immigration policy, the Trump administration has dramatically expanded a programme requiring citizens from specific countries to post substantial financial bonds to apply for entry into the United States.
List of Nations Subject to Bonds Nearly Triples
The US State Department announced on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, that it is adding 25 new countries to its list of nations whose passport holders must pay a visa bond. This comes less than a week after seven countries were initially added to the scheme. The latest additions bring the total to 38 countries, with the new bond requirement taking effect from 21 January 2026.
The financial bonds, which range from $5,000 to $15,000, are intended to deter visa overstays. However, officials confirm that payment does not guarantee a visa will be granted. The bond amount is refunded if the visa application is denied or when the holder proves they have complied with all visa terms upon departure from the US.
New Countries Facing the $15,000 Hurdle
The 25 nations newly subject to the visa bond requirement are predominantly in Africa, with others in Latin America and Asia. The full list includes:
- Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin
- Burundi, Cape Verde, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica
- Fiji, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal
- Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga
- Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
They join 13 countries already on the list, such as Bhutan, Botswana, the Gambia, Guinea, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, and Zambia.
Stricter Entry Rules and Travel Logistics
This bond mandate is the latest in a series of measures by the Trump administration to tighten US entry requirements. Other rules now include mandatory in-person interviews and the disclosure of years of social media history for visa applicants from all countries requiring visas.
According to the State Department notice on travel.state.gov, the bond amount is determined during the visa interview. Applicants must submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and agree to the bond terms via the Treasury's Pay.gov platform. This requirement applies regardless of where the application is submitted.
Furthermore, visa holders from these nations will be required to enter and exit the United States through specific designated ports of entry. These include:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Failure to use these ports may result in denied entry or an improperly recorded departure, potentially jeopardising the bond refund. Critics argue that the high cost of the bonds makes the process of obtaining a US visa prohibitively expensive and unaffordable for many legitimate travellers from the affected nations.
