The United States has included Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan in a list of countries subject to visa bonds. Visa applicants from these countries are required to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the U.S., according to a notice published on the U.S. State Department’s travel website.
For Turkmenistan, the measure took effect on January 1.
For Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the new requirements are set to take effect on January 21, 2026.
According to the State Department, any citizen traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The amount is determined at the time of the visa interview.
The State Department has stated that the requirement is designed to encourage timely departure from the U.S.
Payment of the bond does not guarantee visa issuance. If a visa is denied, or if the applicant complies with all visa terms, the bond is refunded.
As a condition of the bond, all visa holders who have posted a visa bond must enter and exit the United States through the following designated ports of entry: Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport.
