A new financial requirement has been introduced for Bangladeshis traveling to the United States. With Bangladesh included in the updated U.S. government “visa bond” list, Bangladeshi citizens may now be required, in certain cases, to deposit a bond of up to USD 15,000 to obtain a U.S. visa. This rule will take effect from January 21.
On January 6, the U.S. Department of State updated the list of countries subject to the visa bond requirement, newly adding Bangladesh. The list now includes a total of 38 countries.
Citizens of these listed countries may be required to post a bond when applying for temporary non-immigrant visas to the United States, particularly B1/B2 (business and tourism) visas.
According to State Department guidelines, even if an applicant meets all visa requirements, a consular officer may still impose a visa bond at their discretion. The bond amount has been set at three tiers—USD 5,000, USD 10,000, or USD 15,000. The specific amount will be determined by the officer based on the applicant’s personal profile, purpose of travel, and interview assessment.
The bond must be paid through the U.S. Treasury Department’s online payment platform, Pay.gov. However, applicants have been cautioned not to make any payment unless they receive written instructions from the consular officer.
According to the U.S. Department of State, this visa bond is part of a pilot program aimed primarily at reducing visa overstays—individuals who remain in the United States illegally after their visa expires.
Countries whose citizens have comparatively higher overstay rates have been included in this list. The program was first launched last August and initially applied to only a limited number of countries.
The visa bond is not permanently forfeited; it is refundable if certain conditions are met. The State Department explains that the bond will be refunded if the traveler leaves the United States within or before the authorized period, does not travel to the U.S. despite receiving a visa, or is denied entry at a U.S. airport.
However, if someone overstays beyond the permitted period or applies to change their visa status after arriving in the U.S.—such as seeking political asylum—the bond amount will be forfeited.
New conditions have also been added regarding entry into the United States under this bond system. Travelers who post a visa bond will be required to enter the U.S. through one of three designated airports: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, or Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Using any other airport may be considered a violation of the bond conditions and could complicate the refund process.
In addition to Bangladesh, the list includes countries such as Algeria, Angola, Bhutan, Cuba, Djibouti, Fiji, Nigeria, Nepal, and Uganda, among others from Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. The policy will take effect on different dates for different countries.
Experts believe this decision will make travel to the United States more expensive and complicated for Bangladeshis. Those planning trips for tourism, business, or short-term visits will need additional financial preparation.
A visa bond is essentially a financial guarantee to ensure that a traveler complies with visa conditions, particularly the length of stay. While most countries require proof of sufficient financial means during the visa application process, the practice of taking a refundable cash deposit is not widely used internationally. In the past, New Zealand and the United Kingdom introduced similar measures on a limited scale, but later discontinued them.
