US makes $20,000 visa bond permanent for 3 Central Asian nations
The US Department of State has made its temporary visa security scheme permanent starting 3 August.
The regulation mandates that certain business and tourist visa applicants must post a financial guarantee of up to $20,000 before travelling to the United States. The Visa Bond Program applies to B-1/B-2 visa applicants from 50 designated countries with high overstay rates, deficient information-sharing and inadequate screening procedures.
The updated list directly impacts travellers from three Central Asian nations:
- Kyrgyzstan;
- Tajikistan;
- and Turkmenistan.
Under the permanent framework, consular officers will evaluate whether an applicant poses a risk of overstaying their authorised visit. If a bond is required, applicants must pay either $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 depending on their individual circumstances and financial capacity.
The maximum bond amount is set to automatically adjust for inflation every seven years beginning in October 2027. Payments must be submitted electronically in U.S. dollars through a designated Treasury platform.
Drop in visa overstays
The permanent rollout follows a 12-month pilot programme that launched in August 2025. According to the State Department, the trial period proved to be an effective diplomatic tool for enforcing immigration compliance and national security. Before the pilot began, the 50 covered nations accounted for 45,488 visa overstays during the 2024 fiscal year.
During the first 10 months of the pilot scheme, that figure dropped to fewer than 50 recorded overstays. The financial requirement also led to an 83% decline in overall visa issuances from those specific countries as many applicants chose not to proceed with the payments.
To ensure compliance, bonded travellers are restricted to entering and exiting the United States exclusively through commercial airports. The U.S. government will refund the bond principal without interest once immigration systems confirm the visitor departed on time and adhered to all visa conditions.
However, individuals who overstay their authorised admission period, accept unauthorised employment or file for asylum will forfeit their entire deposit.
Standard rules for Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is excluded from the new bond requirements. Uzbek citizens seeking a U.S. business or tourist visa continue under standard application rules without posting a financial deposit. Applicants must submit the online DS-160 form, pay the standard non-refundable fee and schedule an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent.
During the appointment, applicants must present a valid passport, photograph and proof of strong economic and social ties to their homeland. Approved B-1/B-2 visas generally remain valid for multiple entries over the course of one year.
