📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / U.S. Department of the Interior
International
US Broadens Visa Bond Requirement to 50 Nations, India Left Out
✍️ INDToday
🗓 05 Oct 2026, 11:17 AM
👁 12
The United States has extended its visa bond policy to 50 countries, but India remains excluded from the new requirement.
The U.S. Department of State announced that the visa bond rule will now apply to 50 countries, effective from the end of the year. The bond, a financial guarantee that travelers must provide, is intended to cover potential costs if a visitor overstays or engages in unlawful activity.
India is not among the nations subject to the new bond requirement. While the U.S. has not publicly detailed the criteria for inclusion, the exclusion means Indian passport holders can continue to obtain visas without the additional financial stipulation.
The expansion reflects Washington’s broader effort to tighten immigration controls and ensure compliance with U.S. visa regulations. Travelers from the newly added countries will need to submit a bond amount, typically ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the visa category.
Indian travelers and consular officials are advised to stay informed about any future changes, as the policy could evolve with shifts in bilateral relations or security concerns.
India is not among the nations subject to the new bond requirement. While the U.S. has not publicly detailed the criteria for inclusion, the exclusion means Indian passport holders can continue to obtain visas without the additional financial stipulation.
The expansion reflects Washington’s broader effort to tighten immigration controls and ensure compliance with U.S. visa regulations. Travelers from the newly added countries will need to submit a bond amount, typically ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the visa category.
Indian travelers and consular officials are advised to stay informed about any future changes, as the policy could evolve with shifts in bilateral relations or security concerns.