US Visa Bond Program Becomes Permanent
As of August 3, 2026, the US Visa Bond Program has become a permanent rule. The program allows American consular officers to require a financial guarantee of up to $20,000 from certain visitor visa applicants.
Targeted Countries
The program targets nationals of 50 countries identified by the US Department of State. The list includes mainly African countries, as well as states in Asia, the Caribbean, the Caucasus, and the Pacific. According to information published by VisaNews, the selection is based on several criteria, including:
- Overstay rates after visa expiration
- Cooperation with the US in documentary security matters
- Information sharing
Tunisia Included in the List
Tunisia is among the countries concerned. According to the schedule established by the US Department of State, the measure is set to apply to Tunisian nationals as of April 2, 2026. Tunisia joins a list of several African countries, including:
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burundi
- Cape Verde
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- Central African Republic
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Other Countries Affected
The program also concerns countries outside of Africa, including:
- Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, and Venezuela in the Americas and the Caribbean
- Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan in Asia
- Georgia in the Europe-Caucasus region
- Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu in the Pacific
Different Implementation Dates
The program's implementation did not occur simultaneously for all countries. The US Department of State set different entry dates for each country. Some countries, such as Malawi and Zambia, were integrated as early as August 2025, while others joined the program gradually in 2025 and 2026. For several countries, including Tunisia, the indicated date is April 2, 2026.
Case-by-Case Evaluation
It is worth noting that travelers do not automatically pay $20,000. The bond is decided on a case-by-case basis by the consular officer after reviewing the application. The bond can be one of three amounts: $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000.
