US Embassy warns against working on B1/B2 visas
Diplomatic Correspondent:
The US Embassy in Dhaka has said Bangladeshi travellers on B1/B2 visas may attend business meetings or conferences, but they are not allowed to work in the United States or receive payment from a US employer.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, the embassy said visitors on B1/B2 visas may take part in activities such as negotiating contracts or attending conferences, but any form of employment or paid work in the US violates visa conditions. The embassy stressed that it is the responsibility of visa holders to ensure correct use of their visas.
The reminder comes against the backdrop of new and stricter visa measures under the US government’s “visa bond” pilot programme, which now applies to Bangladesh.
Earlier, the US Embassy in Dhaka advised applicants not to pay any visa bond before their visa interview. In a message issued on 4 February, the embassy clarified that paying a bond in advance does not guarantee visa approval. After the interview, if an applicant is found eligible, a consular officer will provide a direct link to pay.gov along with detailed payment instructions.
Following the suspension of immigrant visas, the United States has also announced that visas issued under the pilot programme will be valid for a maximum of three months and will allow only single entry.
Earlier, the US Department of State suspended immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh. On 7 January, Bangladesh was also added to the US “visa bond” list.
According to the embassy, applicants approved for a US visa under this programme must pay the visa bond within 30 days of approval.
The bond payment must be completed within this timeframe using the pay.gov link provided by the consular officer after the interview. The visa issued will be valid for up to three months and will permit only a single entry into the United States.
The embassy further stated that travellers must enter the US through designated ports of entry. For Bangladeshi citizens, entry will be allowed only through three airports: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Entering or exiting the US through any route other than these designated airports may be considered a violation of bond conditions and could complicate the refund process.
Under the programme, the visa bond will be automatically cancelled and refunded once the traveller returns to Bangladesh and fulfils all visa conditions. These include not engaging in any work in the US and returning within the authorised period.
With Bangladesh’s inclusion on the visa bond list, Bangladeshi citizens may be required to deposit a refundable bond of up to $15,000 to travel to the United States.
The US government says the main objective of the pilot programme is to discourage visa overstays. Countries with higher rates of non-return after visa expiry have been included in the scheme.
Alongside Bangladesh, the list includes Algeria, Angola, Bhutan, Cuba, Djibouti, Fiji, Nigeria, Nepal and Uganda. The rules will come into effect on different dates for different countries.
The new measures are expected to make obtaining a US visa more expensive and complicated for Bangladeshi travellers.
A visa bond is a form of financial guarantee used by some countries before issuing temporary visas, ensuring that visitors comply with visa conditions, particularly the permitted length of stay.
The United States, each year issues thousands of temporary non-immigrant visas to foreign students, tourists and workers, with validity ranging from weeks to several years. Staying beyond the authorised period is considered a visa overstay.
While most countries require proof of sufficient funds for visa issuance, few have implemented a refundable bond system.
New Zealand previously introduced visa bonds to control overstays but later discontinued the practice.
In 2013, the United Kingdom proposed visa bonds for travellers from certain “high-risk” countries, but the plan was eventually scrapped.