Following the introduction of new U.S. visa regulations that take effect on April 2, the U.S. Embassy in Georgia has issued a clarification regarding the mandatory $5,000–$15,000 visa bond for Georgian applicants seeking B1/B2 visas.
Below is the Q&A format summarizing the Embassy’s explanations:
Q: Will the U.S. stop issuing 10-year B1/B2 visas for Georgian citizens starting April 2, 2026?
A: Yes. Under the visa bond program, B1/B2 applicants who meet the visa requirements will be issued a single-entry visa valid for up to 3 months, instead of the previous long-term (including 10-year) visas.
Q: Has the visa application fee increased?
A: No. The standard $185 visa fee remains unchanged.
Q: Who decides how long a traveler can stay in the United States — the consular officer or the immigration officer at the border?
A: The visa in your passport only permits you to travel to a U.S. port of entry.
The Department of Homeland Security immigration officer at the border decides whether you may enter the U.S. and for how long.
Under the new program, applicants receive a single-entry visa valid for up to 3 months.
Q: Do the new rules affect people who already have valid B1/B2 visas?
A: No. The visa bond requirement is not retroactive and does not apply to existing valid B1/B2 visa holders.
Q: Is the bond requirement based on where the person applies or on their citizenship?
A: The requirement is based on citizenship.
It applies to all Georgian citizens, regardless of the country from which they apply.
Q: When should applicants pay the visa bond?
A: Do not pay the bond in advance.
Applicants should pay the bond only after the consular officer informs them — at the interview — that they meet the visa requirements and must submit the deposit.
Q: How should applicants pay the bond?
A: The Embassy warns applicants not to use third-party websites.
Payment instructions will be provided directly by the consular officer.
Q: From which entry points can bond-holding travelers enter the United States?
A: Travelers with the visa bond may enter only through commercial aviation ports, including CBP pre-clearance locations.
They cannot enter via charter flights, general aviation, land border crossings, or seaports.
On March 18, the U.S. State Department expanded its Visa Bond Pilot Program to include 12 additional countries, bringing the total to 50. The program requires applicants from “high-risk” countries — including Georgia — to provide a $5,000 to $15,000 financial guarantee when applying for B1/B2 tourist or business visas. The purpose is to reduce overstay violations and strengthen immigration control.
