US Visa Bond List Covers 50 Countries; India Is Not Included

Publication date: October 5, 2026. The US Department of State’s updated visa-bond list covers nationals of 50 countries, while India does not appear on the list published on October 2. The programme can require affected B1/B2 visa applicants to post a financial bond as part of the visa process.

Key points

• The US State Department’s October 2 list identifies 50 nationalities subject to visa-bond requirements for certain B1/B2 applications.
• India is not included on the current State Department list, while several other South Asian countries are covered.
• Indian travellers still face normal US visa rules and should not interpret bond exemption as automatic visa approval or reduced scrutiny.

What the official list says

The State Department page names the countries whose nationals are subject to the bond requirement and provides implementation dates. India is absent from that list. The Indian Express reported on October 5 that the bond can reach as high as $20,000 for affected applicants, depending on the consular determination.

The programme applies to specified business and tourism visa applicants rather than every US visa category. Travellers should therefore distinguish the visa-bond rule from separate application fees, interview requirements, security checks and immigration rules.

Context for Indian applicants

India’s exclusion means Indian nationals are not currently subject to this particular bond requirement simply because of nationality. It does not create a special visa waiver, guarantee approval or alter the need to demonstrate eligibility for the visa being requested.

Why it matters

Visa-policy headlines can cause confusion because different programmes apply to different nationalities and visa classes. Checking the current State Department page is especially important before paying money to a third party. The department has warned applicants about scams connected to visa bonds, and legitimate requirements should be verified through official channels.

Sources: US Department of State; The Indian Express; Reuters background.

Read more India coverage from Taaza Khabar.

AI-assisted editorial disclosure: This article was prepared with AI assistance and checked against the US State Department’s current list and independent reporting.

Representative stock image: a person holding passports; this is not a photograph of the reported event or product. Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com Used under the Pexels License.