US new visa rule puts BD’s travellers to financial pressure
Diplomatic Correspondent :
Under the new visa regulations, Bangladeshi travelers wishing to enter the United States will face financial challenges, as they are restricted to using only three designated airports as entry and exit points.
According to US Department of State, the visa bond rule will come into force on January 21, 2026.
Concerned stakeholders said that the visa bond policy could significantly raise the cost of travel for citizens of Bangladesh, adding a major financial hurdle for those seeking to visit the country for tourism or business.
Under the expanded policy, Bangladeshi passport holders applying for B1/B2 (business or tourism) visitor visas may now be required to post a refundable security deposit, or bond, of between $5,000 and $15,000. The amount is determined at the time of the visa interview, State Department said.
The applicant must also submit a Department of Homeland Security Form I-352. Applicants must agree to the terms of the bond through the Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform Pay.gov. This requirement applies regardless of place of application.
The decision places Bangladesh among 38 countries now subject to the requirement, most of them from Africa, Latin America and South Asia.
According to State Department, the bond is designed to discourage visa overstays by acting as a financial guarantee that visitors will leave the country on time. The money is paid through the US Treasury’s Pay.gov platform.
If the visa is denied, or if the visitor follows all visa rules and departs the United States within the permitted period, the bond is refundable. However, paying the bond does not guarantee that a visa will be approved.
For Bangladesh, the move has raised concerns among travellers, education agents and business communities.
In addition, as a condition of the bond, all visa holders who have posted a visa bond must enter and exit the United States through the designated ports of entry listed below. Not doing this might lead to a denied entry or a departure that is not properly recorded.
The airports include Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.
Critics argue that a bond of up to $15,000 is far beyond the reach of many Bangladeshi families, students and small business owners, effectively limiting access to US travel even for short visits.
Alongside Bangladesh, newly added countries include Nepal, Bhutan, Nigeria, Senegal, Venezuela, Uganda and Zambia, among others. The expansion brings the total number of affected countries to 38.
The US government says the policy is part of a broader tightening of immigration and travel rules under the Trump administration.
These measures also include stricter in-person visa interviews, expanded social media disclosure requirements and more detailed background checks.
For Bangladeshi applicants, the new requirement marks a significant shift in access to the United States.
Critics warn that the high financial threshold may sharply reduce opportunities for lawful travel, business engagement and people-to-people contact between Dhaka and Washington.