ORLANDO, Fla. — Changes are going into effect for nationals of 38 countries when it comes to applying for a U.S. visa for tourism or business purposes. Among the countries on that list, Cuba and Venezuela.

What You Need To Know

A list of 38 countries, including Cuba and Venezuela was posted on the U.S. Department of State’s website indicating nationals from those countries would need to post visa bonds to apply to enter the United States

The bonds can range from $5,000 to $15,000, and payment of the bond does not guarantee a visa will be granted, but the amount will be refunded if the visa is denied or when a visa holder demonstrates they have complied with the terms of visa

Nationals from Cuba and Venezuela reacted to the news, saying this makes it unaffordable for most people to even apply for the visa

According to the U.S. Department of State, these changes will go into effect on Jan. 21

According to the U.S. Department of State, any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of the countries on the list must post a bond for $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 to apply for a B1/B2 visa, for business or tourism.

Cuban and Venezuelan nationals are reacting to the news, saying this makes it unaffordable for most applicants.

The amount to pay will be determined at the time of the visa interview by the agent, and paying the bond does not guarantee a visa will be issued. The applicant must also submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352.

Attorney Frank Symphorien-Saavedra said that, in a way, the changes would limit the number of people from these countries who can afford to travel to the United States.

“It’s an additional barrier to commerce, to travel, to tourism,” he said. “It’s an additional ban because if you’re on the borderline, again, it’s not going to impact most of the people with high socioeconomic status or high incomes, but people that might be on the borderline, right, professionals from Cuba, professionals from Venezuela.”

According to Visit Orlando research, visitation from Venezuela and Cuba remains limited, with year-to-date passenger arrivals through October 2025 ranking Cuba 75th and Venezuela 78th among Orlando’s international origin markets. However, international travel continues to be vital for the tourism industry. International visitors stay an average of nine days compared to about three for domestic travelers, resulting in higher overall visitor spending and greater economic impact for the community.

In 2024, Central Florida’s tourism industry generated $94.5 billion in economic impact and supported nearly 468,000 direct and indirect jobs, representing roughly 37% of all regional employment. Orlando’s top international source markets currently include Canada, the U.K., Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.

Venezuelan national Vicente Perez said he believes this change contradicts the recent developments in Venezuela, where Nicolas Maduro was captured, leaving many Venezuelans hoping this could be a move towards freedom.

“This measure — that’s my personal opinion — is contradictory on what happened the past Saturday, January 3, where, as you know, the U.S. government is trying to get freedom finally for Venezuela,” Perez said.

Both Cuba and Venezuela are also under partial U.S. travel restrictions as part of an expanded travel ban announced by the Trump administration in late 2025.

Symphorien-Saavedra said these bonds might come to alleviate these restrictions.

“Alleviating those concerns and saying people can come here, we have a system, we have a process where the consular officer, if he has any concerns about the person’s stay in the United States, can require these bond payments. And it gives us some assurance that the person is going to leave the country at the end of their stay,” Symphorien-Saavedra said.

As a condition of the bond, all visa holders must enter and exit the United States through designated ports of entry listed on the Department of State’s website.

According to the State Department, the money for the bond will be returned to the applicants under three circumstances only: once they leave the United States, if they do not travel to the U.S. before the expiration of the visa, or if the visa holder is denied admission into the U.S. at a port of entry.

If the visa holder overstays the duration of their visa and does not leave the country, their case might be sent to USCIS, and they would lose the money of the bond.

These changes will go into effect on Jan. 21.