By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

The U.S. Department of State has announced an expansion of its visa bond pilot program, increasing the number of affected countries to 50. 

This initiative is designed to curb the high rate of visa overstays by requiring certain travelers to provide a financial guarantee before entering the country.

Beginning April 2, 2026, foreign nationals from the affected countries applying for B1 (business) or B2 (tourism) visas may be required to post a $15,000 bond. This bond serves as a security deposit to ensure that visitors adhere to the terms of their stay and depart the U.S. on time.

The Department of State revealed that the program has already shown a 97 percent compliance rate among those who have participated. So far, nearly 1,000 visas have been issued under this scheme, with the vast majority of recipients returning to their home countries as scheduled.

This policy shift comes as a response to significant overstay figures recorded during the final year of the Biden administration. Data showed that over 44,000 visitors from the currently listed countries remained in the U.S. illegally after their visas expired, prompting the need for stricter measures.

The expansion adds 12 new countries to the list, including Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia. These nations join 38 others, including Nigeria, that were already listed.

The $15,000 bond is fully refundable to the traveler provided they comply with all visa regulations and exit the U.S. within the authorized period. If the individual does not travel after receiving the visa, the bond is also returned to them.

One of the primary motivations for the program is to save American taxpayers the high costs associated with immigration enforcement and deportation. The government estimates that it costs an average of $18,000 to remove an individual who is present in the country illegally.

By implementing this bond system, the State Department expects to save up to $800 million annually in enforcement costs. The department emphasized that countries are selected for the list based on specific immigration risk indicators and historical overstay rates.