US tightens visa rules for Bangladesh: B1, B2 applicants must pay $15K bond after approval – Firstpost

From January 21, Bangladeshi nationals applying for US B1 and B2 visas must pay a refundable bond of up to $15,000 after their visa is approved.

The US Embassy in Dhaka announced the change this week, pointing out concerns in Washington about past trends of visa overstays and immigration violations involving Bangladeshi visitors. This requirement places Bangladesh among a tiny group of nationalities now subject to additional financial scrutiny in order to secure a short‑term US entry permit.

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Starting January 21, 2026, all Bangladeshis approved for a B1/B2 (business/tourist) U.S. visa must pay a bond of up to $15,000. This requirement does not apply to people holding a valid B1/B2 visa issued before January 21, 2026.

Do NOT pay your bond in advance. Paying early… pic.twitter.com/c7CMmJxQmt

— U.S. Embassy Dhaka (@usembassydhaka) January 19, 2026More from World Why Bangladesh, Pakistan are on US immigrant visa freeze list US suspends visa processing for 75 countries from January 21

Who must pay—and when

The bond will only be required of applicants who are granted a innovative B1 or B2 visa on or after January 21. Those who hold a valid B1/B2 visa issued before that date are not impacted by the rule.

Importantly, the bond is not a fee to apply for a visa; it is a requirement that comes after the visa has been approved by a consular officer. Only at that point will successful applicants be directed on how and where to submit the bond payment. The funds is held as a guarantee that visa holders will respect the terms of their stay in the United States.

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US embassy warns against scams

The embassy has issued a particularly strong warning to potential applicants about advance payments and unauthorised channels. “Do NOT pay your bond in advance. Paying early does not guarantee you a visa, and third‑party sites can be scams. Any payment made before your interview is NOT refundable,” the embassy posted on its official social media.

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Applicants are urged to rely only on official US government channels and wait until after their visa interview before taking any steps toward payment. Paying through third‑party websites or before a consular officer has given instructions could lead to setback of capital and possible fraud.

Bangladesh’s inclusion in the bond programme comes alongside other nations that have shown similar patterns in recent immigration compliance data.

TagsBangladesh United States of AmericaHomeWorldUS tightens visa rules for Bangladesh: B1, B2 applicants must pay $15K bond after approvalEnd of Article