A new economic barrier for Cubans aspiring to enter U.S. territory legally will come into effect on January 21, 2026.
The United States Government has included Cuba in an expanded list of nations whose citizens must post a bond -between $5,000 and $15,000- as a condition for applying for a B1 or B2 visa, as confirmed this week by the Department of State.
This measure, which also applies to Venezuela and 23 other countries, is part of a stricter immigration policy implemented during the current administration of Donald Trump, aimed at curbing irregular immigration and reducing the rates of visitor overstays in the country.
What does this mandatory bond entail?
The policy affects anyone with a Cuban passport who applies for a B1 (business) or B2 (tourism, personal visits, or medical treatment) visa.
Applicants must pay a deposit of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, an amount that will be determined by the consular officer during the interview.
It is important to know that this bond:
-Does not guarantee the approval of the visa.
-It should only be paid upon direct instruction from a consular officer.
-You must make payments through the official portal Pay.gov, never through third parties.
-It will only be returned if all the visa conditions are met, including leaving the country within the authorized period.
Any attempt to pay this bond without express authorization will not be reimbursed, and caution is advised against using unofficial websites to make the deposit.
Designated entry points and enhanced control
An additional condition imposed on those who post bail is that they can only enter and exit the U.S. through three specific airports:
-Logan International Airport in Boston (BOS).
-John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York (JFK).
-Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
According to the authorities, failure to follow this entry and exit route may result in denial of entry or errors in the immigration record, which could affect the return of the bond and the possibility of future applications.
The consequences of non-compliance
The regulations are clear regarding the penalties in the event that the visitor:
-Exceed the authorized period of stay.
-I applied for a change of immigration status, such as asylum.
-Does not comply with leaving the country through the established ports.
In such situations, the Department of Homeland Security may refer the case to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to determine the violation and, consequently, withhold the bond.
A measure framed within the tightening of immigration policies
Although the State Department has not provided an official justification for the inclusion of Cuba and Venezuela, the decision comes shortly after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, which took place on January 3 in Caracas.
After the operation, President Trump declared that “Cuba has always survived thanks to Venezuela” and that “now the island is on the verge of collapse.”
The agency Axios noted that there is no direct confirmation that this operation prompted Venezuela's inclusion on the list, but it highlights that the government has also not explained the exact criteria behind the expansion of affected countries.
In August 2025, the implementation of this type of bonds was already announced as part of a 12-month pilot program aimed at applicants from countries with high overstay rates and document control systems deemed inadequate.
According to the official notice, the objective was to "protect the U.S. government from taking on financial responsibilities if a visitor fails to meet the conditions of their visa."
Cuba and the tightening of legal access
Until this new communication, the measure affected only 13 countries.
With the expansion, there are now 38 nations subject to this requirement, mostly in Africa, although several countries from the Caribbean, Asia, and Latin America have also joined.
The inclusion of Cuba marks a symbolic and practical milestone: it adds a significant economic barrier for those attempting to enter the United States legally, even with approved visas, and reinforces the message of mistrust towards migration flows coming from the island.
This change occurs in a context of multiple additional restrictions:
-Mandatory in-person interviews for many visa renewers.
-New documentary requirements for applicants of the Diversity Visa Lottery.
-An additional "visa integrity" fee of $250 starting October 1.
-Tightening of the citizenship exam and doubling of the cost of immigrant visas.
As warned by the U.S. Travel Association, these measures could make the U.S. "one of the countries with the most expensive visas in the world."
Potential impact for Cubans
For many Cuban citizens, who are already facing economic and bureaucratic obstacles to legally emigrate, this bond represents an almost insurmountable barrier.
Paying up to $15,000 without a guarantee of obtaining the visa or certainty of a refund turns the process into a high-risk gamble.
In practice, this policy could further incentivize irregular emigration and unauthorized border crossings by closing legal avenues for access, even for those who meet all the formal requirements.
Moreover, the emphasis on overstays as justification, when specific data on violations by Cuban citizens has not been made public, raises doubts about the political motivations behind this measure.
Conclusion
The inclusion of Cuba in the mandatory bond program for tourist or business visas strengthens the hardline immigration stance of the current U.S. government and severely complicates the already limited legal avenues for citizens of the island to visit or conduct business in the United States.
Although presented as a tool to control illegal stay, this policy has clear diplomatic, humanitarian, and economic implications, placing thousands of Cubans at a new migratory crossroads.
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