According to the new rules, visas now require a monetary deposit
A meeting was held in Bishkek where the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Mirbek Abakirov, discussed visa policy issues with the US Ambassador to the country, Leslie Viguerie. Amid tightening visa regulations from Washington, Kyrgyzstan has become one of the few countries in the region openly expressing its dissatisfaction with the situation, without diplomatic tricks, as reported by the Telegram channel "Asian Express".
During the negotiations, the parties reviewed the current state of bilateral relations and prospects for their development. An important topic of discussion was the upcoming "B5+1" forum, scheduled to take place in Bishkek on February 4-5, 2026. Both organizational aspects and the political significance of this forum for dialogue between Central Asia and the US were discussed.
Particular attention was paid to visa issues. The Kyrgyz side expressed concern regarding the new requirements for obtaining US B-1/B-2 visas for Kyrgyz citizens. It was emphasized that such changes complicate travel, negatively affect business relations, and slow down the development of trade and economic cooperation.
In response, the US Ambassador noted that the new requirements are not directed against Kyrgyzstan and are part of a broader immigration policy aimed at ensuring compliance with visa legislation.
As a result of the meeting, both sides agreed to continue working together to find solutions that would help reduce tension in the visa sphere and improve contacts between the citizens of the two countries.
It should be noted that starting from January 21, 2026, Kyrgyz citizens wishing to obtain tourist and business visas to the US in the B1/B2 category will be required to pay a visa bond. Kyrgyzstan is included in the list of countries for which the US is launching a pilot visa bond project. This information is available on the website of the US Department of State.
This innovation aims to reduce instances of overstaying visas. The visa bond is an amount of money that must be paid in addition to the standard visa fee if the consular officer decides to impose it. The amount of the bond can vary from $5,000 to $15,000 and is determined based on the results of the interview at the embassy.
It is important to note that paying the bond does not guarantee visa approval. This condition applies only if the visa is approved and solely at the discretion of the consular officer.
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