US Visa Bond of up to $15,000: Bangladesh, Nepal, and other South Asian countries in the list of affected countries |

Bangladesh is in the list of countries that will be subjected to visa bonds from January 21, 2026, as per the data from the US Government of State. The US Embassy in Dhaka has announced that from January 21, 2026, Bangladeshi citizens applying for B1/B2 visas, used for short-term business and tourism travel, may be required to pay a visa bond after their visa is approved. The embassy has clarified that the rule will not apply to applicants who already hold a valid B1/B2 visa issued before that date. Bangladesh has been added to a list of 38 countries whose citizens may be subject to this bond requirement when applying for B1/B2 visas to the United States. The Embassy in its post shared on X, further stated, “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 bond will be returned if you respect the terms of your visa.”

Bond amount and assessment

The amount of the bond to be posted would be subject to the individual assessment performed before the visa interview, according to the embassy. The successful applicants would be asked to post a $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 bond, depending on the discretion of the consular officer when conducting the interview. The bond is intended as a compliance measure to ensure visitors adhere to US visa conditions, including departing the country within the authorised period.

Do not pay before the interview

The US Embassy Dhaka has issued a clear warning to applicants not to pay any bond before attending their visa interview. In a public advisory, the mission cautioned that paying money in advance does not guarantee visa approval and that many third-party websites offering bond-related services may be fraudulent.