Kathmandu, 7 Jan: Nepali citizens wishing to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes will now be required to deposit a security bond. In a notice issued on Tuesday, the U.S. Department of State included Nepal on the list of countries whose citizens must submit a visa bond ranging from USD 5,000 to USD 15,000.
The provision will come into effect for Nepal from January 21. Under the new rule, applicants approved for B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourist) visas must deposit one of the three amounts—USD 5,000, USD 10,000, or USD 15,000—as a security bond. Based on the current exchange rate, this amounts to approximately NPR 720,000 to NPR 2.16 million.
The Department had first introduced this provision on a pilot basis in August last year for a limited number of countries. At present, citizens of Nepal, along with Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Cuba, Fiji, Kyrgyzstan, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and several other countries, are subject to the mandatory visa bond requirement. The Department stated that visa applicants must strictly comply with the bond conditions.
According to the notice, the consular officer will determine the amount of the bond during the visa interview. “This rule will apply regardless of where in the world the applicant applies,” the notice said, adding that once instructed by the consular officer, the applicant must complete Form I-352. The bond amount must be paid through the U.S. Treasury’s online platform, Pay.gov.
The Department has warned applicants not to use any third-party websites to submit the bond. It stated that payments made outside official government systems will not be refunded and that depositing the bond does not guarantee visa issuance.
Additionally, travelers who obtain visas and deposit the bond will be allowed to enter and exit the United States only through one of three international airports: Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, or Washington Dulles International Airport. Choosing any other airport may result in denial of entry or exit, the notice warned.
The bond will be refunded if the traveler departs the United States within the authorized period, does not travel despite receiving a visa, or is turned back at the port of entry. However, the bond may not be refunded if the traveler overstays the permitted duration, applies to change visa status, or files an application for asylum. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will investigate whether visa conditions have been violated and, if violations are confirmed, will initiate proceedings to forfeit the bond.
According to Reuters, the U.S. government has introduced the bond requirement to discourage tourists and business visitors from overstaying their visas. Since assuming office in January, former President Donald Trump has pursued strict immigration policies, including deportation campaigns, cancellation of visas and green cards, and scrutiny of social media posts.
Human rights groups have strongly criticized Trump’s immigration and travel policies, arguing that they undermine guarantees of due process and freedom of expression. Trump and his supporters, however, claim that these measures enhance internal security.
