Trump administration expands visa bond program to 38 countries

The Trump administration is dramatically expanding a policy that requires foreign travelers to post bonds of up to $15,000 before entering the United States.

The State Department on Tuesday added 25 countries to its list of visa bonds, nearly tripling the number shortly after adding seven more as part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

There are now 38 countries subject to the requirement, most of them in Africa and some in Latin America and Asia, a move that could make obtaining a US visa affordable for many travelers.

The bond requirement for the latest additions, including Venezuela, will go into effect on Jan. 21.

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Travelers who qualify for a B1/B2 visa from countries on this list must post a $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 bond, with the amount set during the visa interview, according to a notice posted on the State Department’s website.

Paying the bond will not guarantee visa approval, but the money will be refunded if the visa is refused, or when the visa holder demonstrates compliance with the terms of the visa.

The expansion follows a screening program initiated by the State Department in August that requires certain visa applicants from countries with high overstay rates and deficient documentary security controls to post a bond.

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The Trump administration has made several changes to immigration policy over the past year, affecting the way people travel, obtain visas and become citizens in the United States, with some measures scheduled to take effect in 2026.

The Trump administration is requiring citizens from all visa-requiring countries to sit for in-person interviews and disclose years of social media history, as well as information about their family’s previous travel and residency arrangements.

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented a new policy on Dec. 26, 2025, which expands facial recognition for non-citizens entering and exiting the United States.

President Donald Trump also recently announced the launch of the long-awaited “Trump Gold Card”, an immigration program designed to provide a new, streamlined path to US citizenship, which he said could generate billions of dollars.

New countries added to visa bond requirement starting Jan. 21 are Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

Countries already on the list include Bhutan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Turkmenistan and Zambia.

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Fox News Digital has contacted the State Department for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman, Greg Wehner and The Associated Press contributed to this report.