US visa bond scheme leaves Pakistan out

Pakistan is not among the 50 countries whose citizens may now be required to deposit up to $20,000 as a financial guarantee before obtaining a US visitor visa under a new programme that took effect on August 1.

The list published in the US Federal Register does not include Pakistan. Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh and Nepal are covered by the programme, while India is not. Afghanistan and Iran are not included because the US does not maintain normal diplomatic relations with either country.

The State Department said the decision followed a review of the 2025 pilot programme, which it said significantly reduced visa overstays among travellers from participating countries and improved compliance with US immigration rules. Officials said those findings prompted Washington to make the programme permanent.

According to the department, there were 45,488 overstays from these 50 countries in 2024. In the first 10 months of the pilot, the number of overstays was fewer than 50. The visa bond requirement has also decreased visa issuance, as some applicants appear to self-select by not paying a bond.

The programme applies to applicants for B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas from countries covered by the scheme. Under the new rules, US consular officers may require selected applicants to post a refundable bond of between $10,000 and $20,000 before issuing a visa.

The regulations make permanent a visa bond pilot launched in 2025 after the US State Department concluded that it had helped reduce visa overstays. The new rules also increase the maximum bond from $15,000 to $20,000 and eliminate the previous $5,000 minimum bond available during the pilot programme.