The United States has introduced a new visa bond rule requiring foreign nationals from certain countries to pay bonds up to $20,000 when applying for B1/B2 visas. Indian passport holders are exempt from this requirement, as India is not listed among the 50 affected countries, according to livemint.com. However, neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal are included in the list.
The bond amount varies between $10,000 and $20,000 and is determined during the visa interview. Applicants must wait for instructions from a consular officer before submitting Form I-352 and making payments through the official Pay.gov platform. Payments made without official instructions will not be refunded. The rule applies regardless of the country from which the visa application is submitted.
This new bond requirement aims to ensure compliance with visa conditions but does not guarantee visa issuance upon payment. The US government has warned applicants to avoid unofficial payment channels, as it does not take responsibility for money paid outside its systems. The inclusion of countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal highlights a targeted approach, while Indian travelers remain unaffected by this policy change.
The US visa bond rule officially took effect recently, with implementation dates varying by country. Indian passport holders can continue their visa application process without the added financial burden of the bond, as confirmed by the US State Department guidelines shared on livemint.com.