US visa bond requirement covers 50 countries, India excluded

The United States has listed 50 countries whose nationals may be required to post visa bonds of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 when applying for B1/B2 business and tourist visas, with India excluded from the requirement.

The US State Department published an updated list of countries covered by the programme, which applies to applicants who are otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa. Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal are among the South Asian countries on the list.

Under the programme, the bond amount is determined by a consular officer during the visa interview. Indian passport holders are not subject to the bond requirement under the current list.

According to the State Department, Bangladesh and Nepal have been covered by the requirement since January 21, while Bhutan was added from January 1. The list also includes countries from Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia and the Pacific.

The programme operates under Section 221(g)(3) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, which permits a consular officer to require a bond before issuing a visa. The current framework was established through a final rule that took effect on August 3.

The State Department said countries are identified using B1/B2 visa overstay rates recorded in the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report.

Applicants directed to post a bond must submit DHS Form I-352 and agree to its terms through Pay.gov, the US Treasury Department’s online payment platform. The department has cautioned applicants not to make any payment until instructed to do so by a consular officer.

A bond may be posted by the applicant or a third party, such as a friend, relative or business associate. The person who posts the bond can receive a refund if its conditions are met. However, posting a bond does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.

Travellers subject to the bond requirement also face specific entry and departure conditions. They must use commercial airports, including US Customs and Border Protection preclearance locations, and cannot use charter aircraft, general aviation, land crossings or seaports for entry or departure under the programme.

Potential violations are referred to US Citizenship and Immigration Services for a determination on whether the bond conditions have been breached.

The programme is intended to address visitor overstays among travellers entering the US on temporary business and tourist visas, with DHS overstay data used to determine the nationalities covered by the requirement.