Starting August 3, Georgian citizens applying for U.S. business and tourist visas may be required to post a bond of up to $20,000 under a U.S. Visa Bond Program that is becoming permanent and covers nationals of 50 countries, mostly from Africa.
Georgia was added to the programme in April, while it was still operating on a temporary basis, and remains the only European or South Caucasus country on the list of countries subject to the rule.
The programme will allow U.S. consular officers to require B-1 and B-2 visa applicants to post refundable bonds of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000, according to a notice published in the Federal Register. Introduced in August 2025, the pilot also included a $5,000 bond option, which will no longer be available under the permanent programme.
“An alien applying for a visa as a temporary visitor for business and pleasure (B-1/B-2) may be required to submit a bond (‘visa bond’) to ensure that the alien maintains his or her nonimmigrant status and departs as required,” the document reads.
“Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 as a condition of visa issuance, as determined by the consular officers,” it adds.
The requirement does not guarantee visa issuance and applies to applicants otherwise deemed eligible for a visa, while bonds will be returned to the obligor if visa holders comply with the terms and conditions, including timely departure from the United States when the visa expires.
“The 2025 visa bond pilot, which provided a framework for the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of the Treasury to assess the feasibility of administering a visa bond program, has provided sufficient data to suggest that a visa bond program is an effective tool for enforcing compliance among bonded visa holders,” according to the federal notice.
U.S. officials say the policy is intended to reduce visa overstays, while immigration advocates argue it could deter legitimate travel to the United States, Reuters reports.
In January, the U.S. also included Georgia among the 75 countries affected by the temporary suspension of U.S. immigrant visa issuance.
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