Why Bangladeshis must now post max Tk18 lakh bond for US business, tourism visas
Posting a bond does not guarantee visa approval and if it is paid without a consular officer’s direction, it will not be refunded
From 21 January, Bangladeshi citizens applying for B1/B2 visitor visas (for business or tourism) will be required to post a refundable visa bond as a condition of visa processing.
This follows a recent expansion of a US pilot programme that aims to address concerns about visa overstays and improve departure compliance.
What is a visa bond?
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A visa bond is a financial guarantee that an applicant deposits with the US government before (and as a condition of) visa issuance. Under the pilot programme, bonds can be $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, as determined by the consular officer at the time of the visa interview.
Under the pilot programme, any Bangladeshi passport holder found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond of $5,000 (Tk6,11,552), $10,000 (Tk12,23,104), or $15,000 (Tk18,34,656), as determined by the consular officer at the time of the visa interview and subject to the global and local US dollar rate fluctuations.
Posting a bond does not guarantee visa approval. If a bond is paid without a consular officer's direction, it will not be refunded.
Why is the bond required?
The bond requirement stems from a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) published under Section 221(g)(3) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Under longstanding legal authority, consular officers may ask certain visa applicants to post a maintenance of status and departure bond. The new pilot formalises its use specifically for some US B1/B2 applicants.
Officials have said the aim of the pilot is to encourage timely departure from the USA and reduce the number of visa holders who overstay their authorised stay.
Under the bond terms, the money may be refunded if the traveller leaves the United States on or before the date they are authorised to remain.
Which countries are affected?
Bangladesh is one of dozens of nations added to the list of countries subject to visa bond requirements, effective 21 January.
The programme now covers countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and beyond that have been identified under the pilot's criteria - often tied to visa overstay rates and screening concerns.
Other countries on the list alongside Bangladesh include Algeria, Angola, Cuba, Nigeria, Nepal, Venezuela and more.
How do bonds work in practice?
At the visa interview, the consular officer determines eligibility and the required bond amount ($5,000/$10,000/$15,000).
Applicants must submit Form I-352 (Immigration Bond) and pay via the official US Treasury platform pay.gov.
Bonds are refunded automatically if the traveller:
- Leaves the US by their authorised departure date,
- Does not travel to the US before the visa expires, or
- Is denied admission at the US port of entry.
What happens if the terms are broken?
Bond holders are typically required to enter and exit the United States through specified airports, such as Boston Logan, JFK in New York, or Washington Dulles, though compliance details vary by programme instructions.
If a traveller overstays or otherwise violates visa conditions, the Department of Homeland Security may refer the case to US Citizenship and Immigration Services to determine whether the bond is forfeited.
The countries in question
The Department of State has identified nationals from these countries as needing visa bonds. The implementation dates are in parentheses:
- Algeria (21 January 2026)
- Angola (21 January 2026)
- Antigua and Barbuda (21 January 2026)
- Bangladesh (21 January 2026)
- Benin (21 January 2026)
- Bhutan (1 January 2026)
- Botswana (1 January 2026)
- Burundi (21 January 2026)
- Cabo Verde (21 January 2026)
- Central African Republic (1 January 2026)
- Cote D'Ivorie (21 January 2026)
- Cuba (21 January 2026)
- Djibouti (21 January 2026)
- Dominica (21 January 2026)
- Fiji (21 January 2026)
- Gabon (21 January 2026)
- The Gambia (11 October 2025)
- Guinea (1 January 2026)
- Guinea Bissau (1 January 2026)
- Kyrgyzstan (21 January 2026)
- Malawi (20 August 2025)
- Mauritania (23 October 2025)
- Namibia (1 January 2026)
- Nepal (21 January 2026)
- Nigeria (21 January 2026)
- Sao Tome and Principe (23 October 2025)
- Senegal (21 January 2026)
- Tajikistan (21 January 2026)
- Tanzania (23 October 2025)
- Togo (21 January 2026)
- Tonga (21 January 2026)
- Turkmenistan (1 January 2026)
- Tuvalu (21 January 2026)
- Uganda (21 January 2026)
- Vanuatu (21 January 2026)
- Venezuela (21 January 2026)
- Zambia (20 August 2025)
- Zimbabwe (21 January 2026)
