The United States Department of State has released a list of 50 countries whose citizens are required to post financial bonds of between KSh 1.29 million (USD 10,000) and KSh 2.59 million (USD 20,000) before being issued B1/B2 visitor visas. The requirement, last updated on October 2, 2026, marks a sweeping expansion of a programme that was first introduced in 2025. Nationals of any listed country who are otherwise found eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond of KSh 1.29 million (USD 10,000), KSh 1.94 million (USD 15,000), or KSh 2.59 million (USD 20,000), with the specific amount determined at the time of the visa interview.
African countries dominate the visa bond list, accounting for 30 of the 50 countries on the list. The African countries affected are Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Cote D'Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Kenya is not on the list, meaning Kenyan passport holders are not subject to the bond requirement when applying for US visitor visas. However, they remain subject to standard visa adjudication, including interviews and documentation requirements. Kenya's exclusion, along with that of South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda, Egypt, and Morocco, means citizens of these countries do not need to post a bond to obtain a US visitor visa.
The programme is grounded in Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which permits consular officers to require a bond before visa issuance. A Final Rule issued on August 3, 2026, formally established the programme, with bond amounts linked to visa overstay rates drawn from the Department of Homeland Security's Entry/Exit Overstay Report.
Applicants directed to post a bond must complete Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and submit payment through the Department of the Treasury's online platform, Pay.gov. The bond may be paid by the applicant or by a third party, including a friend, family member, or business associate located inside or outside the applicant's home country.
All bonds must be paid in US dollars and will be returned in US dollars, with the obligor bearing any currency exchange risk. As a condition of the bond, holders must enter and exit the United States exclusively through designated commercial airports of entry. Charter air, general aviation, land, and sea crossings are not permitted.
The bond is refunded automatically once the visa holder departs the US on time and through an approved commercial airport, or if they never travelled to the US and their visa has expired. The State Department has cautioned that posting a bond does not guarantee visa issuance and that any bond paid without explicit direction from a consular officer will not be refunded.
Key points
- The US Department of State has published a list of 50 countries whose citizens must post visa bonds before receiving B1/B2 visitor visas.
- African countries account for 30 of the 50 countries on the list.
- Kenya is not on the list, meaning Kenyan passport holders are not subject to the bond requirement when applying for US visitor visas.
