US Visa Bond Rules: India Exempt as 50 Countries Face New B1/B2 Requirements

India has emerged as one of the notable countries excluded from a new US visa-bond programme that could require citizens of 50 nations to deposit as much as $20,000 when applying for certain temporary US visas.

The measure applies to applicants seeking B1 business or B2 visitor visas, with the US government introducing financial bonds for nationals of countries it has identified under the programme.

Depending on the applicant and the applicable category, the bond can be set at $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000.

For Indian travellers, however, the development does not create an additional visa-bond burden.

India is not among the 50 countries covered by the requirement, meaning Indian passport holders applying for B1/B2 visas are exempt from the new bond provision.

The programme is being implemented under provisions of US immigration law that allow a consular officer to require a visa applicant to furnish a bond in circumstances covered by the law.

Applicants who are subject to the requirement must complete the prescribed process before travelling to the United States.

The US authorities have also specified an official mechanism for payment of the bond.

Where a bond is required, applicants are directed to use the government’s designated payment process rather than private agents or unofficial websites.

The bond is linked to Form I-352, while payments are processed through the US government’s Pay.gov platform.

The new requirement is separate from the normal visa application process and should not be confused with the standard visa fee.

The bond is an additional financial obligation imposed only on applicants from countries included in the programme.

The US government has simultaneously issued warnings to visa applicants to remain cautious about fraudulent websites and intermediaries claiming to arrange visa bonds.

Applicants should rely only on official US government channels when making any payment connected with the requirement.

The list of affected countries is not applicable to India. Nationals of Nepal and Bangladesh are scheduled to come under the programme from January 21, while Bhutanese nationals are covered from January 1.

For Indian travellers and businesses, the exemption means the new bond requirement will not add a potential $10,000-to-$20,000 financial condition to applications for B1/B2 visas.

Indian applicants will continue to follow the applicable US visitor and business visa procedures without this additional bond.

The development is particularly relevant for Indians travelling to the US for tourism, family visits, business meetings, conferences, and other temporary purposes, as the financial requirement could otherwise have significantly increased the upfront cost of obtaining a visa.