US makes up to Tk18 lakh visa bond mandatory for Bangladeshi B1/B2 applicants from 21 Jan
The US Department of State has also clarified that posting a bond does not guarantee the issuance of visas for business or tourism.
Bangladeshi nationals applying for B1/B2 (business or tourism) visas of the United States will be required to submit a visa bond from 21 January 2026, after Bangladesh was included in a new pilot programme announced by the US Department of State.
According to information published on travel.state.gov, Bangladesh is among dozens of countries whose citizens have been identified as subject to visa bond requirements under a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) introduced in line with Section 221(g)(3) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Under the programme, any Bangladeshi passport holder found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond of $5,000 (Tk611,552), $10,000 (Tk1,223,104), or $15,000 (Tk1,834,656). The bond amount will be determined by a consular officer at the time of the visa interview and is based on overstay risk assessments using B1/B2 overstay rates from the US Department of Homeland Security's Entry/Exit Overstay Report.
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Applicants directed to post a bond will be required to submit the Department of Homeland Security's Form I-352 (Immigration Bond) and agree to the bond terms through the US Department of the Treasury's official online payment platform, pay.gov. The requirement applies regardless of where the visa application is submitted.
The State Department has cautioned applicants not to submit Form I-352 or pay any bond amount unless specifically instructed by a consular officer. Payments made without official direction will not be refunded, and the US government has warned that it bears no responsibility for money paid through third-party websites.
The department has also clarified that posting a bond does not guarantee visa issuance.
As an additional condition, visa holders who post a bond must enter and exit the United States only through designated ports of entry: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Failure to comply may result in denied entry or an unrecorded departure.
The visa bond will be automatically cancelled and refunded if the Department of Homeland Security records that the traveller departs the US on or before the authorised stay period, does not travel to the US before the visa expires, or is denied admission at the port of entry.
However, the bond may be forfeited if authorities determine a breach of its conditions. Situations that could trigger a review include overstaying beyond the authorised period, failing to depart the US, or applying to adjust status from a non-immigrant visa, including seeking asylum.
Cases involving potential breaches will be referred by the Department of Homeland Security to US Citizenship and Immigration Services for determination.
Bangladesh joins several other countries, including Nigeria, Nepal, Venezuela, and Uganda, under the visa bond pilot programme, which aims to curb visa overstays and strengthen compliance with US immigration rules.
