The B1/B2 visa deposit requirement has moved from a temporary pilot to a permanent fixture for Georgian nationals, and the US Embassy in Tbilisi wants every applicant to understand what that means before their next interview.
Officials confirmed this week that the bond program, first rolled out as an experiment, is now locked in indefinitely for Georgia and every other country where it applies.
What the New Visa Bond Rule Means for Georgian Applicants
Every Georgian citizen approved for a B1/B2 visa must now post a refundable financial deposit. The B1/B2 visa deposit requirement applies regardless of travel history, age, or prior visa approvals — even veteran travelers aren’t exempt.
- Deposits are refunded once entry, stay, and exit conditions are fully met
- The rule applies no matter where in the world the application is filed
- Consular officers, not third-party agents, handle every step of the process
How Much Georgians Must Pay: Deposit Amounts Explained
The bond amount isn’t fixed. Applicants may be asked for $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000, decided case by case at the interview stage. Earlier phases of the program had set a lower ceiling.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Standard bond amount | $10,000 |
| Maximum bond (Georgia) | $20,000 |
| Original pilot ceiling | $15,000 |
| Visa validity issued | Single-entry, up to 3 months |
| Visa application fee | Unchanged at $185 |
Consular officers may still waive the deposit in narrow cases, such as travel by US government officials or urgent humanitarian need — but for most applicants, payment now comes standard.
Why Georgia Was Added to the US Visa Bond Program
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has publicly linked the decision to a documented pattern of visa violations among its citizens. Officials called it part of a broader tightening under current US immigration policy.
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Georgia is notably the only Caucasian or European nation on the list of 50 affected countries, which otherwise spans 24 African nations, several Asian and Middle Eastern states, and Pacific island countries.
Overstay Rates Behind the Decision
Department of Homeland Security figures from 2024 give the clearest picture of why Georgia stands out among its regional neighbors on this issue.
- Georgia’s B1/B2 overstay rate: 7.43%
- Armenia’s overstay rate: 6.33%
- Azerbaijan’s overstay rate: 2.02%
- Highest global rates: Chad and Laos, near 28% each — yet neither country appears on the bond list
That gap has fueled debate over whether the policy is applied consistently, since some higher-overstay nations remain untouched.
How the Deposit Payment Process Works
The embassy has been explicit: applicants should never pay in advance. The B1/B2 visa deposit requirement is only triggered after a consular officer confirms eligibility during the interview itself.
- Payment instructions come solely from the consular officer, never a third party
- No visa is issued until the bond is confirmed and processed
- Applicants are warned against unofficial websites claiming to process bond payments
Impact on Long-Term US Visas for Georgians
Since the bond program began, Georgian applicants have not received the previously common 10-year B1/B2 visas. Instead, approved travelers get a single-entry visa capped at three months.
Industry data from consular service e-Consul suggests roughly 90% of approved applicants are now assigned a financial guarantee, while the rest are pushed into administrative review rather than immediate approval.
Which Countries Are Included in the Visa Bond Program
As of April 2, 2026, the bond system covers 50 countries total, following a State Department expansion designed to address overstay and compliance concerns worldwide.
- 24 African nations
- 11 Asian and Middle Eastern countries
- 7 Oceanic nations
- Georgia — the sole European inclusion
Countries with historically high overstay rates, including Chad and Laos, remain notably absent from the list, a point critics have raised repeatedly.
Official Warnings From the US Embassy
The embassy’s guidance is blunt: verify everything through official US government channels. Any information not published directly by the State Department or embassy should be treated with suspicion.
Georgian applicants are urged to disregard payment demands from agents, brokers, or websites claiming to accelerate the B1/B2 visa deposit requirement process — no such shortcut exists.
For Georgian travelers planning a US trip in the coming months, the message from Tbilisi’s embassy is clear: budget for the bond, wait for official instructions, and don’t trust anyone offering to skip the line.
