Dhaka, Jan 7, 2026 — Bangladeshi nationals seeking to travel to the United States for business or tourism will be required to deposit a security bond ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, under a new measure introduced by the US State Department to prevent visa overstays.
The requirement will apply to B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visa applicants from 38 countries, including Bangladesh, and will come into effect for Bangladeshi applicants on January 21, according to officials.
The exact bond amount will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the consular officer during the visa interview. The bond will be refundable if the visa holder complies with all visa conditions, including departing the United States within the authorised period.
The policy is part of an interim final rule published in the US Federal Register on August 5 last year. It targets countries with historically high rates of visa overstays. A pilot version of the programme began on August 20, initially covering two countries, before being expanded this week to include an additional 36 nations.
In South Asia, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan are the only countries included in the list.
Applicants instructed to post a bond must submit Form I-352 and make the payment exclusively through the US Treasury Department’s online platform Pay.gov. Officials stressed that paying the bond does not guarantee visa issuance, and payments made without explicit consular instruction will not be refunded.
Visa holders under the bond programme will be required to enter and exit the United States 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 denial of entry or exit.
The US Department of Homeland Security will monitor arrivals and departures electronically. The bond will be refunded if the traveller departs on or before the authorised stay, does not travel during the visa validity period, or if the visa application is ultimately refused. However, overstaying the visa or applying for asylum will be treated as a violation of bond conditions.
The initiative has been introduced under the Trump administration as part of broader efforts to tighten enforcement of non-immigrant visa rules and reduce overstays.
