US visa bond explained: Do Indians have to pay up to $20,000?
A new US visa bond programme has raised concerns among Indian travellers, with reports suggesting that some applicants for tourist and business visas could be required to deposit as much as $20,000 before receiving a visa.
However, Indian citizens are not currently subject to the visa bond requirement.
The US State Department made the visa bond programme permanent from August 3, 2026. Under the policy, certain applicants from designated countries seeking B-1 business or B-2 tourist visas may be required to pay a refundable security deposit of $10,000, $15,000 or up to $20,000.
The payment is not a visa application fee and does not guarantee visa approval. If an applicant’s visa is refused, the bond is returned. If the visa is approved and the traveller leaves the United States within the authorised period and complies with the visa conditions, the deposit is refunded after compliance is verified.
The programme was initially introduced as a pilot in August 2025 for nationals of Malawi and Zambia. It was subsequently expanded and now covers citizens of 50 countries, most of them in Africa.
The US government says the programme is designed to discourage visa overstays and encourage compliance with US immigration rules. Critics argue that requiring large financial deposits could discourage legitimate visitors, particularly from lower-income countries.
Are Indians required to pay the $20,000 bond?
No. India is not included in the current list of 50 countries covered by the visa bond programme.
Indian applicants for US B-1/B-2 visas therefore continue to follow the existing visa process, including payment of the standard application fee and the required interview.
The United States could revise the list of countries covered by the programme in the future, but there is currently no $20,000 visa bond requirement for Indian tourist or business visa applicants.
For Indian travellers planning holidays, family visits, medical trips or business travel to the US, the new policy does not currently change the standard B-1/B-2 visa process.