US Visa Bond for Nepalis Is Now Permanent: What It Means for Your Visit Visa

Planning to visit relatives in the US, attend a conference or see your child graduate? If you hold a Nepali passport, there is one more thing to prepare for: the US visa bond.

Nepal was added to the US visa bond programme in January 2026. On 3 August 2026, the US made the scheme permanent and raised the highest bond to 20,000 US dollars. Not every applicant pays it. The officer decides at your interview, and the money is returned if you follow the rules.

What Changed in 2026

The bond started as a trial in August 2025 for countries the US says have high overstay rates or weak document checks. From 21 January 2026, Nepali visitor visa applicants could be asked for a bond of 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000 US dollars. When the rule became permanent in August 2026, the amounts changed.

Reports from Kathmandu say officers are generally expected to ask for 15,000 US dollars, but the amount can be higher or lower depending on your purpose of travel, job and income.

Who Has to Pay

The bond applies only to the B1/B2 visa, which covers tourism, family visits and short business trips. It does not apply to student visas such as F-1, or to work visas. It is only asked of people the officer has already found eligible for a visa. In other words, the bond is not a way to buy approval. A weak application will still be refused.

Officers look at the whole picture: why you are travelling, who you will visit, how long you plan to stay, your job and income at home, and your past travel. A parent visiting a student child, a businessperson attending a trade fair and a first time tourist may each be treated differently. Bring documents that show your ties to Nepal, such as proof of work, property or family responsibilities.

How Payment Works

1. Attend your interview at the US Embassy in Kathmandu.
2. If the officer decides a bond is needed, you receive written instructions.
3. Pay the bond using Form I-352 through the official Pay.gov website only.
4. Your visa is issued only after the bond is confirmed.
5. Travel and enter through the airports listed in your instructions.

The embassy has warned Nepalis not to pay anything before an officer asks, and never to use third party websites. Payment made the wrong way may not be refunded.

Getting Your Money Back

You get the full bond back if you leave the US within the time you were allowed to stay, if you never travel before the visa expires, or if you are refused entry at the airport. You lose the full amount if you overstay, fail to leave, or apply for asylum or another way to stay. A timely request to extend or change status is not by itself a breach, but it may count against you.

• Keep your boarding passes and travel records.
• Note the exact date your permitted stay ends.
• Never let your stay run past that date.
• Keep copies of all bond papers in a safe place.

Refunds are processed after the US government records your departure. That is why it matters to leave through a commercial airport and to keep your own proof, such as your boarding pass and passport stamps. If your refund seems delayed, follow the instructions given with your bond papers rather than paying anyone who claims they can speed it up.

Your Total Cost to Plan For

The bond sits on top of the normal fees. The B1/B2 application fee is 185 US dollars. Some posts also collect the new 250 US dollar Visa Integrity Fee when the visa is issued. Budget for both, plus a possible bond, before you book flights.

If you are asked for a bond, think carefully about where the money comes from. Borrowing a large sum at high interest for a short holiday may not make sense. It may be better to delay the trip, or for your relatives in the US to visit you instead, than to put your family under financial pressure.

Why Nepal Is on the List

US officials have pointed to visa overstays, false documents and misuse of public benefits. They also say the list is reviewed and countries with better compliance can be removed. Each honest traveller who returns on time helps improve that record for everyone.

A separate pause on immigrant visas for nationals of many countries, which affected Nepalis, was set aside by a court in August 2026. The State Department confirmed in September 2026 that the pause is no longer in effect.

Before You Rely on Any Figure

Bond amounts and rules above reflect US government announcements and Nepali news reports up to October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change, so check the official government website on the day you act. For questions about your own case, speak to a licensed immigration lawyer or an authorised representative. World Visa Academy is a training academy; it does not file applications or guarantee any visa or outcome.

The Honest Summary

The visa bond is now a permanent part of US visit visas for Nepalis. You may not be asked for it, but you should plan as if you might. Pay only when the officer instructs, use Pay.gov, and leave on time to get your money back.

Key takeaways

• Nepal is on the list of countries whose B1/B2 applicants may be asked for a cash bond.
• Since 3 August 2026 the scheme is permanent, with bonds of 10,000, 15,000 or 20,000 US dollars.
• You only pay if the consular officer tells you to, and only through Pay.gov.
• The bond is returned if you follow the rules and leave the US on time.