A visa bond is introduced for citizens of Kyrgyzstan traveling to the USA

This measure will come into effect on January 21, 2026, in a test format


Starting January 21, 2026, citizens of Kyrgyzstan who plan to apply for tourist and business visas of category B1/B2 to the USA will face a new requirement — the mandatory payment of a visa bond. Kyrgyzstan has been included in the list of countries for which the United States is launching an experimental visa bond program. Detailed information is available on the website of the U.S. Department of State.

This initiative aims to reduce instances of overstaying visa allowances. The visa bond is a specific amount of money that is added to the standard visa fee if the consular officer deems it necessary. The bond amount can be $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 and is determined individually based on the outcome of the interview at the embassy.

It is important to note that the payment of the bond does not guarantee the issuance of a visa. This condition applies only if the visa has been approved and is at the discretion of the consular officer.

The new requirement applies to citizens of Kyrgyzstan who are applying for a B1/B2 visa, meet the visa criteria, and, at the discretion of the consular officer, must pay the bond. Regardless of the country of application, the rule will apply to everyone.

The bond payment procedure begins only after official notification from the consulate. The applicant fills out form I-352, and payment is made exclusively through the government payment system Pay.gov. The use of intermediaries or third-party internet platforms is prohibited. If funds are deposited without the instructions of the consular officer, they are non-refundable.

The bond will be automatically refunded upon meeting one of the conditions: if the person leaves the USA before the allowed period expires, if the trip did not take place, and the visa has expired, or in the case of denial of entry at the border.

However, the bond may be withheld in case of visa regime violations. For example, if an overstay is recorded, if the person remained in the USA after the allowed period, or if they applied for a change of status, including a request for asylum. In such cases, the materials will be forwarded to U.S. immigration services for further review.

There is also a restriction on entry and exit points. Citizens who have paid the visa bond must cross the U.S. border only through three airports — Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), and Washington (Dulles, IAD). Failure to comply with this requirement may lead to issues with exit documentation and, consequently, the loss of the bond.

Thus, the USA is effectively introducing a mechanism for financial accountability for compliance with visa regulations, based on statistics of overstays by foreign nationals.

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