US Makes Visa Bond Program Permanent for 50 Countries, Excludes India
The US State Department has made permanent its visa bond programme, requiring applicants from 50 countries to post refundable bonds up to $20,000 for B-1 and B-2 visas, aimed at reducing visa overstays. The policy, effective August 3, 2026, mainly affects countries in Africa and some in South Asia, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan; India is not currently included. The bond amount thresholds have increased from a maximum of $15,000 during the pilot to $20,000. Additional countries may be added in the future.
First-hand measurement across 8 sources
We measured how 8 outlets covered this story. No outlet gave this story a measurable political slant — there is no left–right reading to report. Overall sentiment is neutral (48/100). Lens Score 45/100.
Outlets measured: firstpost, ndtv, thefinancialexpress, economictimes, hindustantimes, indianexpress, indiatoday, hindustantimes. See how each one headlined and framed the same story in the source comparison below.
AI Analysis
Sentiment was consistent across outlets (38–52/100), indicating broadly factual reporting rather than editorialising.
Coverage timeline
hindustantimes broke this story on 31 Jul, 06:44 pm. Other outlets followed.