Pakistani applicants for US business and tourist visas are not currently required to post a visitor visa bond of up to $20,000, as Pakistan has not been included in the United States’ covered-country list.
The US Department of State has made its Visa Bond Program permanent for selected applicants seeking B-1 business or B-2 tourist visas. The final rule took effect on August 3, 2026, after replacing a 12-month pilot programme.
Under the programme, nationals of designated countries may be required to deposit a refundable bond before a visa is issued. The possible amounts are $10,000, $15,000 and $20,000, with the final figure determined by a consular officer after considering the applicant’s circumstances.
Pakistan Not on Current Country List
Pakistan does not appear among the 50 countries currently identified by the State Department. India is also absent from the published list.
Bangladesh and Nepal, however, are covered. Their implementation date was January 21, 2026, according to the State Department’s official notice.
This means Pakistani nationals applying on Pakistani passports are not presently subject to the programme’s country-based bond requirement.
The exclusion does not guarantee visa approval or remove normal application requirements. Pakistani applicants must still complete the standard process, pay the applicable visa fee, attend an interview when required and satisfy the consular officer that they qualify for the visa.
How the Bond Works
For applicants from covered countries, the bond is imposed only after a consular officer determines that the person is otherwise eligible for a B-1/B-2 visa and falls within the programme.
The officer may set the amount at $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000. Official guidance says $15,000 is expected to be the standard level in many cases, with a lower or higher amount selected according to the applicant’s financial and personal circumstances.
Payment is made electronically through the US government’s designated system after the applicant receives instructions. Applicants are warned not to pay through unofficial websites or third-party agents.
When Is the Money Returned?
The bond is intended to ensure that the traveller respects the conditions of the visa and leaves the United States before the authorised stay expires.
It is generally cancelled and returned when the traveller maintains lawful status, avoids unauthorised employment and departs through an approved commercial air route by the required date. A person who breaches the conditions may forfeit the amount.
The bond is separate from the regular visa application fee and does not itself guarantee that a traveller will be admitted to the United States.
Why the US Introduced the Programme
The State Department says countries may be selected because of factors including high overstay rates, weaknesses in identity or criminal-record information sharing, and concerns over screening, vetting or travel-document security.
The department may amend the list on a rolling basis. New countries must generally be announced at least 15 days before implementation, while removal can take effect immediately.
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For Pakistani travellers, the current position is straightforward: the new country-based visitor visa bond does not presently apply. Applicants should still check official US guidance before submitting an application because the list and procedures may change.
