The United States will require visa applicants from 12 additional countries to pay a refundable bond of up to $15,000, expanding a policy aimed at reducing overstays by short-term visitors.According to the latest update, this rule applies to applicants seeking B1 and B2 visas, which cover business and tourism travel. The bond amount will vary between $5,000 and $15,000 depending on the applicant’s profile and country of origin. This measure is scheduled to come into effect from April 2, 2026.The latest expansion includes Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Tunisia and Papua New Guinea, among other countries. With this change, this policy will now apply to about 50 countries in total.The US government has stated that the bond system is designed to ensure compliance with visa conditions. Applicants who comply with the conditions of their stay, including leaving the country before their visa expires, will receive a full refund. Those who violate visa conditions, such as overstaying, risk having the bond forfeited.This program targets countries that US authorities have identified as having relatively high rates of visa overstays. Officials have not announced any changes to the criteria used to determine which countries are included.The bond requirement does not apply to all travelers from the listed countries. Consular officers retain the discretion to decide when to impose a bond as part of the visa process. This means that some applicants may not be asked to pay it, while others may have to face the full amount.The policy builds on an earlier extension announced in January 2026, when additional countries were brought under the same requirement. At the time, officials said the move was meant to tighten immigration controls while maintaining legal avenues for travel to the US under the Trump administration.There has been no indication that this rule will be applied to countries like India, which are not part of the current list.