B1/B2 applicants to deposit up to USD 15,000 from January 21, 2026
KATHMANDU, JANUARY 7
Nepali nationals applying for US tourist and business visas will now be required to deposit a visa bond, as Nepal has been added to the list of countries subject to the United States' visa bond pilot programme, according to the US Department of State.
The new requirement will take effect from January 21, 2026, and applies to applicants seeking B1/B2 (business and visitor) visas who are otherwise found eligible following a consular interview.
Under the programme, applicants may be asked to post a bond of USD 5,000, USD 10,000 or USD 15,000, with the amount determined by a consular officer on a case-by-case basis. The bond must be submitted using Form I-352 (Immigration Bond) and paid only through the US government's official payment platform, Pay.gov.
The Department of State said the visa bond requirement has been introduced under Section 221(g)(3) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act as part of a temporary pilot programme aimed at reducing visa overstays. The decision is based on B1/B2 overstay data published by the US Department of Homeland Security.
Applicants have been cautioned not to pay any fees unless explicitly instructed by a consular officer, noting that payment of a bond does not guarantee visa issuance and that fees paid without authorisation will not be refunded. The US government has also warned against using third-party websites for bond payments.
As a condition of the bond, visa holders must enter and exit the United States only through designated airports-Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, or Washington Dulles International Airport. Failure to comply may result in denial of entry or complications in recording departure.
The bond will be automatically refunded if the visa holder departs the US within the authorised stay period, does not travel before the visa expires, or is denied admission at the port of entry. However, the bond may be forfeited if the individual overstays, fails to depart, or applies to adjust immigration status, including seeking asylum.
Nepal joins dozens of countries across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nigeria and Tanzania, on the visa bond list, as the United States tightens measures to monitor short-term visitors and curb overstays.
