The United States will require visa bonds of up to $15,000 from applicants of 12 additional countries under a newly announced expansion of its visa bond programme.

The change adds a dozen more countries to the list of nationalities whose applicants must post a financial bond as a condition of receiving a US visa. The bond amount can reach $15,000 per applicant, according to the announcement reported by PBS.

What does the rule change?

Under the expanded requirement, visa applicants from the 12 newly covered countries must deposit a bond before their visa can be issued. The bond functions as a financial guarantee tied to the visa application process.

• The maximum bond amount is $15,000.
• 12 additional countries fall under the requirement following the expansion.
• The measure extends an existing bond policy to new nationalities.

Who is affected?

The rule applies to applicants for US visas who hold citizenship of the 12 countries added to the programme. Applicants from countries already covered by the bond requirement continue to face the existing rules.

The bond mechanism targets visa applicants whose profiles the US government views as carrying a higher risk of overstaying or failing to comply with visa conditions, based on the programme's existing design.

How does the bond work?

An applicant posts the required sum — up to $15,000 — as part of the visa application process. The bond ties a financial cost to the application itself, separate from standard visa fees.

The exact bond amount within the $15,000 ceiling can vary, as the programme allows bond levels to be set per case under the established framework.

What should applicants do?

The US State Department publishes the official list of countries covered by the visa bond requirement and the applicable bond amounts. Applicants from the 12 newly added countries should consult the State Department's visa guidance and their local US embassy or consulate before filing, as bond requirements apply at the application stage.

Details on the specific countries added and the effective date of the expansion appear in the official announcement and State Department guidance, which remain the authoritative sources for eligibility and procedure.