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Pakistan exempted from US visa bond program as Washington makes $20,000 deposit rule permanent

By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan is not among the 50 countries whose citizens may now be required to deposit up to $20,000 as a financial guarantee before obtaining a US visitor visa, under a permanent programme that took effect on August 1, according to a report by daily Dawn.

The list published in the US Federal Register does not include Pakistan. Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh and Nepal are covered by the programme, while India is also excluded. Afghanistan and Iran are not included because the United States does not maintain normal diplomatic relations with either country.

The State Department said the decision followed a review of the 2025 pilot programme, which it said significantly reduced visa overstays and improved compliance with US immigration rules. According to the department, there were 45,488 overstays from these 50 countries in 2024, while in the first 10 months of the pilot, the number of overstays was fewer than 50.

The visa bond requirement has also resulted in a decrease in visa issuance, as some applicants "self-select" by not paying a bond. Diplomatic sources confirmed to Dawn that "Pakistan is not on the list of countries covered by the programme".

Under the new rules, US consular officers may require selected applicants from covered countries to post a refundable bond of between $10,000 and $20,000 before issuing a B-1 business or B-2 tourist visa. The regulations make permanent a visa bond pilot launched in 2025, increasing the maximum bond from $15,000 to $20,000 and eliminating the previous $5,000 minimum.

The bond will be refunded if the visitor complies with all visa conditions and leaves the United States before the authorised period of stay expires. Applicants who overstay or otherwise violate visa terms risk forfeiting the deposit.

The 50 countries covered by the programme include 30 African nations as well as countries in Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific. The requirement does not apply automatically to all applicants from listed countries; instead, consular officers will determine on a case-by-case basis whether a bond is warranted

Pakistan exempted from US visa bond program as Washington makes $20,000 deposit rule permanent

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