Pakistan Exempted from New US Visa Bond Programme Requiring Up to $20,000 Guarantee
In a significant development for Pakistani travellers, the United States has excluded Pakistan from its newly permanent visa bond programme. Under the rules that took effect in early August 2026, nationals of approximately 50 designated countries may be required to post a refundable financial bond of up to $20,000 before receiving a B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourist) visitor visa.
The programme, which makes permanent a 2025 pilot scheme, allows US consular officers to demand bonds of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 on a case-by-case basis from applicants from the listed nations. The bond is refunded if the visitor complies with all visa conditions and departs the United States before their authorised stay ends.
Pakistan does not appear on the list published in the US Federal Register. Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh and Nepal are included, while India has also been excluded. Afghanistan and Iran are absent because the United States does not maintain normal diplomatic relations with them. Roughly 30 of the 50 countries covered are in Africa, along with others from various regions.
US State Department officials stated that the decision followed a review of the pilot programme, which they said sharply reduced visa overstays among travellers from participating countries and improved compliance with immigration rules. Overstays from the affected nations fell dramatically during the pilot period, according to department figures.
Pakistani applicants for US visitor visas will continue under existing procedures without the additional bond requirement. The list of covered countries can be updated on a rolling basis, with advance notice required before any new countries are added.
