United States Mandates Bond for Cuban Visa Applicants

Starting January 21, 2026, a new financial hurdle will confront Cubans wishing to legally enter the United States.

The U.S. government has added Cuba to an expanded list of countries whose citizens must pay a bond—ranging from $5,000 to $15,000—as a condition for applying for a B1 or B2 visa, as confirmed this week by the Department of State.

This policy, which also applies to Venezuela and 23 other nations, is part of a stricter immigration strategy driven by the Trump administration, aiming to curb illegal immigration and lower the rates of visitor overstays in the country.

Understanding the Mandatory Bond Requirement

This requirement affects any individual holding a Cuban passport applying for a B1 (business) or B2 (tourism, personal visits, or medical treatment) visa.

Visa applicants must pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, as determined by the consular officer during the interview.

Key points about this bond include:

• Not guaranteeing visa approval.
• Payment is required only after direct instruction from a consular officer.
• Must be made through the official Pay.gov portal, never through third parties.
• Refundable only upon fulfilling all visa conditions, including departure within the authorized period.

Attempting to pay the bond without explicit authorization will result in non-refund, and using unofficial websites for payment is strongly discouraged.

Designated Entry Ports and Enhanced Monitoring

Those who post the bond are restricted to entering and exiting the U.S. through three specific airports:

• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
• New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

Authorities warn that failing to adhere to these entry and exit routes could lead to entry denial or immigration record errors, impacting bond refund eligibility and future application potential.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The regulations are explicit about penalties if the visitor:

• Overstays the authorized duration.
• Seeks to change immigration status, such as applying for asylum.
• Fails to exit through the designated ports.

In such instances, the Department of Homeland Security may refer the case to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to determine non-compliance and potentially withhold the bond.

A Broader Context of Tighter Immigration Controls

While the State Department has not provided an official explanation for including Cuba and Venezuela, the decision follows the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3 in Caracas.

Following the operation, President Trump stated that "Cuba has always survived thanks to Venezuela" and that "now the island is on the verge of collapse."

Axios reported no direct confirmation that this operation motivated Venezuela's inclusion in the list, but noted the administration has not explained the precise criteria behind expanding the affected countries.

In August 2025, the implementation of these bonds was announced as part of a 12-month pilot program targeting applicants from countries with high overstay rates and poor document control systems.

The official notice stated the goal was to "protect the U.S. government from financial liabilities if a visitor fails to meet their visa conditions."

Cuba and the Heightened Barrier to Legal Entry

Previously affecting only 13 countries, the expansion now encompasses 38 nations, mostly in Africa, but also includes several Caribbean, Asian, and Latin American countries.

Cuba's inclusion signifies a symbolic and practical milestone: it imposes a substantial financial barrier on those seeking legal entry to the U.S., even with approved visas, reinforcing skepticism towards migration flows from the island.

This development occurs amid various additional restrictions:

• Mandatory in-person interviews for many visa renewals.
• New documentary requirements for Diversity Visa Lottery applicants.
• An additional "visa integrity" fee of $250 starting October 1.
• Stricter citizenship exams and doubled immigrant visa costs.

The U.S. Travel Association has warned that these measures could make the U.S. "one of the most expensive countries for visas in the world."

Potential Impact on Cuban Citizens

For many Cubans, already facing economic and bureaucratic hurdles to legal emigration, this bond represents an almost insurmountable obstacle.

Paying up to $15,000 without assurance of visa approval or refund certainty turns the process into a high-stakes gamble.

Practically, this policy might further encourage irregular migration and unauthorized border crossings by closing legal access options even for those meeting all formal requirements.

Moreover, the focus on overstay as justification, without publicized specific non-compliance data from Cuban citizens, raises questions about the political motivation behind the measure.

In conclusion, Cuba's inclusion in the mandatory bond program for tourist or business visas strengthens the current U.S. government's hardline immigration stance, severely complicating the already limited legal pathways for island citizens to visit or conduct business in the United States.

Positioned as a tool to control illegal stay, this policy carries significant diplomatic, humanitarian, and economic implications, placing thousands of Cubans at a new migration crossroads.