Starting 20 August 2025 the U.S. Department of State will run a 12month pilot program that requires some B1/B2 visa applicants to post a refundable cash bond before they can be issued a visa. The pilot ends 5 August 2026.
On 4 June 2025 the White House issued a presidential proclamation entitled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and PublicSafety Threats.” Citing nationalsecurity concerns and deficiencies in identitymanagement and informationsharing by the governments concerned the proclamation fully suspends the entryboth immigrant and nonimmigrantof nationals from the following twelve countries
 Afghanistan
 Myanmar Burma
 Chad
 Republic of the Congo
 Equatorial Guinea
 Eritrea
 Haiti
 Iran
 Libya
 Somalia
 Sudan
 Yemen
The measure took effect at 1201 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on 9 June 2025. Exemptions are provided for lawful permanent residents of the United States individuals holding valid visas issued prior to the effective date certain specialimmigrant categories and others whose entry is deemed to be in the national interest.
Who is affected today
 Nationals of 
Malawi
 
and 
Zambia
 who apply for a new B1/B2 visa anywhere in the world.
 The list may expand DOS must give at least 15 days’ public notice before adding other countries.
Bond amounts
Consular officers decide the sum at the interviewUS 5000 10000 or 15000after weighing the applicant’s travel purpose employment income skills and education.
How it works
Interview If the officer rules you eligible for the visa but bondliable the application is temporarily refused and you are told the bond amount.
Payment Within 30 days you or a single payer on your behalf must pay the bond online at Pay.gov using DHS Form I352 Immigration Bond. No thirdparty agents.
Visa issuance Once the bond is confirmed the consulate issues a singleentry B1/B2 visa valid for three months and annotated “VISA BOND”.
Travel You must enter and exit only through Boston BOS New YorkJFK or WashingtonDulles IAD airports.
When you get your money back
The full amount is refundedtypically within weeksif
 you leave the U.S. on or before the date stamped on your I94
 you never use the visa and it expires or
 you are denied entry by CBP and the visa is cancelled.
When the bond is forfeited
DHS will keep the money if you
 overstay your authorized period
 remain in the U.S. beyond the date to which you were admitted or
 apply to adjust status e.g. asylum green card or fail to depart within 10 days of a denied extension/change of status.
Exemptions  waivers
 Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries are not covered.
 Waivers are extremely limited e.g. U.S. government employees urgent humanitarian travel and must be recommended by the consular officerthere is no waiver application form.
Key takeaway
For now the rule applies only to Malawian and Zambian passport holders seeking B1/B2 visas. Other nationalitiesincluding Chinese citizensare 
not
 on the initial list but the roster can be updated with 15 days’ notice.

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