Georgian citizens will now be required to provide a financial deposit of up to $15,000 when applying for US business or tourist visas, following a decision by the United States Department of State to expand its visa bond program.
Georgia is among 12 additional countries recently added to the list of nations whose citizens are subject to the requirement. As of April 2, the total number of countries included in the program will reach 50.
The visa bond initiative was introduced last year by the Trump administration as part of efforts to combat visa overstays and curb illegal migration. The program is being implemented as a one-year pilot and has already been extended until August 5, 2026.
Under the scheme, applicants from designated countries may be required to submit a refundable bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The exact amount is determined based on individual circumstances and at the discretion of the consular officer reviewing the application.
Visas issued under this program are limited to single entry and must be used within three months of issuance. US officials say this shortened validity period is intended to increase the likelihood that travel is completed within a timeframe suitable for collecting data as part of the pilot program.
To secure the return of the deposit, travelers must enter and exit the United States exclusively by air through one of several pre-selected airports designated for the program. The list of participating airports will be published on the official website of the US Department of State 15 days before the program’s implementation and may be subject to periodic changes.
The deposit will be refunded to applicants who comply with all visa conditions and return to their home country within the permitted timeframe, or to those who ultimately choose not to travel to the United States.
The newly added countries include Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia.
They join 38 other countries already participating in the program, including Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
