The United States has introduced a new visa bond requirement for certain Bangladeshi nationals applying for B1/B2 business and tourist visas, aimed at curbing visa overstays. Under the rule, approved applicants may be required to deposit a refundable bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.
Ahead of the rollout, the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka issued a caution against premature or unofficial payments. “Do not pay your bond before your interview. Paying early does not guarantee a visa, and third-party websites can be scams,” the embassy said on Monday. It added that any payment made before the visa interview is non-refundable, while the bond itself will be returned if the visa conditions are fully respected.
The requirement will apply only to Bangladeshi nationals whose B1/B2 visas are approved on or after January 21. Applicants holding valid visas issued before that date will not be affected. Bangladesh has recently been added to a list of 38 countries worldwide subject to the non-immigrant visa bond requirement.
The exact bond amount — $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 — will be determined during the visa interview based on an individual assessment. Applicants asked to post a bond must formally agree to the conditions and make the payment through the US Treasury Department’s official online platform, pay.gov. The bond is refundable if the visa is refused or if the traveller complies fully with visa rules, including departing the United States within the authorised stay period.
Bangladesh has reacted cautiously to the decision. Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain described the country’s inclusion as “very painful and unfortunate,” though he acknowledged it was not entirely unexpected. “This decision is not limited to Bangladesh alone; several countries are included,” he said. “Those facing immigration problems are on the list. US statistics show that Bangladeshis top the list of people drawing money from the social system there. So Bangladesh being included does not seem abnormal to me.”
Among South Asian nations, Nepal and Bhutan have also been included, alongside several countries from Africa, Latin America and Central Asia.
The visa bond requirement is being introduced as part of a pilot programme to address non-immigrant visa overstays. The Donald Trump administration has said the initiative will run from August 20, 2025, to August 5 this year.
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