The United States has expanded visa rules requiring certain applicants to post a financial bond, with 12 additional countries added to the list, bringing the total number of affected nations to 50, according to a report by Newsweek.

Under the revised policy, applicants for B-1 and B-2 visas – typically used for business and tourism travel – from the newly added countries may be required to pay a bond as part of the application process.

The latest countries added are Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia, the report said.

These additions build on earlier phases introduced in 2025 and early 2026, as US authorities broaden measures aimed at tightening immigration controls.

The State Department has said countries are selected based on factors including visa overstay rates and broader immigration risk considerations, according to Newsweek.

The expansion of the bond requirement forms part of a wider shift in visa screening, with US authorities also increasing interview requirements, raising fees and expanding social media vetting for applicants over the past year, the report added.

While much attention has focused on work visa programmes, the tightening of rules for short-term visitor visas signals a broader enforcement approach affecting tourists and business travellers as well.