The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia held a meeting with the Deputy Head of the U.S. Embassy mission in Ulaanbaatar, Neil Vermillion, as reported by MiddleAsianNews.
As previously mentioned, the U.S. has expanded the list of countries subject to a visa bond, including Mongolia.
According to the report, "The U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security have added Mongolia to the list of 12 countries whose citizens may participate in the 'Visa Bond' program for obtaining B1/B2 visas. This decision aims to improve compliance with visa regulations and control over foreign citizens entering the United States, as well as to reduce the risks of visa violations. In this regard, on March 19, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia summoned U.S. diplomats, including Neil Vermillion," the official statement notes.
During the meeting, the Mongolian side requested clarification regarding this situation, emphasizing the difficulties in understanding the logic and reasons that led to this decision by the U.S. government, which is Mongolia's third strategic neighbor. The Ministry expressed regret over this step, which may negatively impact business, tourism, interpersonal relations, and other forms of cooperation between the two countries. Mongolia hopes that the U.S. Embassy will assist in removing the country from this list.
Nevertheless, U.S. representatives stated that as part of their policy to strengthen visa discipline and prevent visa violations, they have increased the number of countries participating in the visa bond program from 38 to 50. The American side expressed readiness to provide additional clarifications on this issue and to cooperate with Mongolia to remove it from the list.
