The US Embassy in Dhaka on Monday announced that Bangladesh nationals with new B1/B2 (business and tourist) visas will be required to pay a bond of up to $15,000 (Rs13,64,325) from January 21.
In a post
on X, the Embassy said: “Starting January 21, 2026, all Bangladeshis approved for a B1/B2 (business/tourist) US 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.”
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, 2026
“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,” they said.
According to the advisory, the bond will be applicable only after a visa has been approved. The amount will be refunded if the visa holder complies with all the terms and conditions of their stay in the United States.
Besides Bangladesh, the US Department of State has listed 37 countries whose nationals are required to post a visa bond when applying for B1/B2 (business and tourist) visas under a pilot programme. Besides Bangladesh, the list includes nations across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, such as Nigeria, Nepal, Bhutan, Cuba, Senegal, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.
As per the programme, any citizen or national traveling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond for $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The amount is determined at the time of the visa interview.
