Bangladesh in US visa bond list, must pay up to 15 thousand dollars

Hakikul Islam Khokan

Bangladesh in US visa bond list, must pay up to 15 thousand dollars
Added new financial obligations for Bangladeshis traveling to the US. Since the name of Bangladesh has been included in the US government's updated list of 'Visa Bonds', Bangladeshi citizens may have to submit a maximum of $15,000 as collateral to obtain a US visa in certain cases. This rule is effective from 21 January 2026. Khabar Ibn News.

On January 6, 2026, the US State Department updated the list of countries covered by the visa bond. The name of Bangladesh has been added to it. Currently, there are 38 countries including Bangladesh in this list. Citizens of the listed countries may be subject to this bond on US temporary nonimmigrant visas, particularly B1/B2 (business and tourism) visas.

According to the Foreign Office guidelines, even if an applicant fulfills all visa conditions, the consular officer can impose visa bond conditions on him. The bail amount is fixed in three steps—$5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. The amount will be determined by the concerned officer based on the applicant's personal profile, purpose of travel and evaluation of the interview.

The security deposit is to be deposited through the US Treasury Department's online payment platform 'Pay.gov'. However, applicants are cautioned not to deposit any money until written instructions are given by the consular officer.

According to the US State Department, the visa bond is part of a pilot program aimed at reducing overstays in the US after their visas expire. The list includes countries whose citizens have a relatively high rate of non-return to the United States. The program was first launched last August, when a limited number of countries were involved.Visa bond will not be deducted permanently. This amount is refundable if certain conditions are met. According to the State Department, if a traveler leaves the U.S. on or before the authorized time, does not travel to the U.S. despite obtaining a visa, or is denied entry at a U.S. airport, the deposit is refundable. However, if someone overstays or goes to the United States and applies for a change in visa status, such as seeking political asylum or asylum, the security deposit will be forfeited.

New conditions have also been added to entry into the United States under this bond. Entry into the US through three designated airports is mandatory for passengers who provide a visa bond. The airports are—Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Using any airport other than these designated routes may constitute a breach of bond conditions, which will complicate refunds.

Apart from Bangladesh, this list includes Algeria, Angola, Bhutan, Cuba, Djibouti, Fiji, Nigeria, Nepal, Uganda and several countries in Africa, Latin America and South Asia. This policy is effective from different dates for different countries.

According to experts, the decision will make travel to the US more expensive and complicated for Bangladeshis. Planning for tourism, business or short-term travel will require additional financial preparation.

A visa bond is essentially a financial guarantee, guaranteeing that a traveler will comply with the terms of the visa—specifically the length of stay. Although most countries require proof of sufficient financial ability at the time of visa,However, this method of taking refundable security is not very common internationally. In the past, New Zealand and the United Kingdom took such initiatives on a limited scale, but were later scrapped.