Kathmandu, Jan 7: Nepali citizens seeking short-term travel to the United States for tourism or business will face an additional financial requirement from next year, after Washington included Nepal in a visa bond pilot programme designed to reduce overstays.
The US Department of State said Nepali applicants for B1/B2 visas may be required to post a refundable bond ranging from USD 5,000 to USD 15,000, depending on individual assessments made during the consular interview process. The measure will take effect on January 21, 2026.
Under the pilot initiative, the bond is to be paid only after an applicant is informed by a consular officer and must be processed through Form I-352 via the US government’s official payment system, Pay.gov. Officials cautioned that payment alone does not ensure visa approval.
The programme has been introduced under Section 221(g)(3) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, with the State Department citing data from the Department of Homeland Security that shows elevated overstay rates among certain categories of short-term visitors.
Applicants granted visas under the bond requirement will be subject to additional travel restrictions. Entry into and departure from the United States must take place through one of three designated airports—Boston Logan International Airport, New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, or Washington Dulles International Airport—to ensure proper monitoring of compliance.
The bond will be automatically returned if the traveller departs within the authorised period or does not use the visa. However, the amount may be forfeited if the visa holder overstays, fails to leave the country, or seeks to alter their immigration status, including applying for asylum.
US authorities have also warned applicants against using third-party websites for bond payments, stating that unauthorised transactions will not be refunded and may expose applicants to fraud.
Nepal joins a growing list of countries across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nigeria and Tanzania, that are currently subject to the visa bond pilot as the United States tightens oversight of short-term travel.
