Citizens of Kyrgyzstan will be required to pay a visa deposit when obtaining visas to the USA
These changes will take effect on January 21, 2026, as part of the Visa Bond pilot program aimed at preventing cases of overstaying visas. Kyrgyzstan is among 38 countries subject to the new requirements. Other Central Asian countries included are Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The visa bond is an additional payment that may be set by the consular officer in addition to the standard visa fee. The amount of the bond can range from $5,000 to $15,000 and will be determined during the interview at the embassy or consulate.
The Department of State noted that the payment of the bond does not guarantee the issuance of a visa. The bond is processed at the direct instruction of the consular officer and requires the completion of Form I-352, followed by payment through the Pay.gov platform. Payments made without the appropriate instructions from the consulate are non-refundable.
The bond will be automatically refunded if a citizen of Kyrgyzstan leaves the U.S. before the end of the authorized stay or if the visa was not used, or if entry was denied at the border. However, the funds may be withheld in situations where there are recorded cases of overstaying, illegal presence in the U.S., or if an application for a change of immigration status has been filed, including requests for asylum.
There are also restrictions regarding border crossing points: citizens of Kyrgyzstan who have paid the visa bond must cross the border only through the airports of Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), and Washington (Dulles, IAD). Violating this condition may result in the loss of the bond.
This decision applies only to those applicants who generally meet the visa requirements but, in the opinion of U.S. authorities, fall into the category of increased immigration risk.
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