On August 5, 2025, the U.S. Department of State published a Temporary Final Rule establishing a 12-month visa bond pilot program. The same day, the State Department separately announced that nationals from Malawi and Zambia will be subject to the B1/B2 visa bond.

Starting August 20, 2025, any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by Malawi or Zambia who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond in amount of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, as determined at time of visa interview.

Program Parameters
The visa bond pilot program specifies the following:

• • Applicants for B1/B2 (business visitor/tourist) visas who are nationals of designated countries will be required to post a bond of up to $15,000 to secure the visa.
• • Applicants should only submit a Form I-352 to post a bond after applying for the visa and being directed to pay the bond by a consular officer.
• • B1/B2 visas issued pursuant to the program will be valid for only three months and a single entry. The admission period pursuant to the visa will not exceed 30 days.
• • All visa holders who have posted a visa bond must arrive to and depart from the United States via one of the ports of entry listed below:
  • • Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
  • • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • • Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
• • The bond will be refunded to the applicant if the applicant complies with all terms of their status and either departs the United States at the conclusion of the authorized period of admission or timely files an extension of stay or change of status request.

Looking Ahead
The bond pilot program is effective August 20, 2025 to August 5, 2026, and is limited to B1/B2 visas.
The State Department may identify additional countries on a rolling basis if it determines that:

• • The country has a high visa overstay rate;
• • The country is deficient in its vetting and screening information; or
• • The country offers citizenship by investment, if the alien obtained citizenship without a residency requirement.

Countries subject to visa bonds will be identified on the State Department travel.state.gov website. The State Department indicates it will provide 15 days’ notice when adding a country to the list. As noted above, as of this date, Malawi and Zambia are the only countries currently subject to the bond requirement.

For additional information about the visa bond pilot program, and the process to apply for a visa subject to the bond, please contact your designated Van Der Hout representative.