The U.S. Department of State has expanded the list of mandatory ports of entry for visa bond holders from three airports to nine major international hubs, requiring certain B1/B2 visitor visa holders to enter and exit the United States only through designated airports under the expanded enforcement rules.
The change is part of the State Department’s ongoing visa bond pilot program, which targets travelers from countries with higher rates of visitor visa overstays. Officials say the expansion is intended to improve arrival and departure tracking while maintaining tighter compliance with bond conditions.
Previously, visa bond holders were restricted to entering and leaving the United States through Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, or Washington Dulles International Airport. Under updated guidance, the list has grown to include six additional major airports, bringing the total to nine.
The newly designated ports of entry are Newark Liberty International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. The State Department said additional ports may be added on a rolling basis.
The ports-of-entry expansion applies to travelers required to post a refundable visa bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 as a condition of obtaining a B1/B2 visitor visa. The bond amount is determined individually during the visa interview, based on the applicant’s circumstances.
According to the State Department, the visa bond requirement is authorized under Section 221(g)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and was established through a Temporary Final Rule as a pilot program. The initiative relies on data from the Department of Homeland Security’s Entry/Exit Overstay Report to identify countries with elevated rates of visitor visa overstays.
Nationals from 38 countries are currently subject to the bond requirement. The list has expanded in stages since August 2025 and now includes countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Venezuela, Senegal, and Uganda, among others. Nepal and 24 additional countries are scheduled to be added to the program beginning January 21, 2026.
Applicants found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must complete Department of Homeland Security Form I-352 and post the bond only after being instructed to do so by a U.S. consular officer. Payments must be made exclusively through the U.S. Treasury’s official payment system, Pay.gov. The State Department has warned applicants not to use third-party websites, noting that the U.S. government is not responsible for funds submitted outside authorized channels.
Officials emphasized that posting a bond does not guarantee visa issuance, and any payment made without explicit direction from a consular officer will not be refunded.
As a condition of the bond, travelers must comply strictly with the designated ports-of-entry requirement. Failure to enter or depart through one of the approved airports may result in denied or delayed entry, or a departure that is not properly recorded—potentially affecting future visa eligibility.
The Department of Homeland Security monitors compliance and refers suspected violations of bond conditions to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for further review. Violations may include overstaying the authorized period of admission, failing to depart on time, or attempting to change or adjust immigration status while in the United States, including filing for asylum.
According to DHS’s Fiscal Year 2024 Entry/Exit Overstay Report, approximately 500,000 nonimmigrants overstayed their authorized period of stay, accounting for 1.15 percent of all expected departures. The remaining 98.85 percent of visitors complied with the terms of their admission.
For Nepali nationals, DHS data showed a 3.12 percent visitor (B visa) overstay rate in FY 2024, down from 4.19 percent in FY 2023. However, the overstay rate among Nepali students (F, M, J visa holders) rose slightly to 10.25 percent in FY 2024, from 10.20 percent the previous year.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
