Bangladesh facing US visa suspension, costly travel bonds

Al Mamun Harun Ur Rashid :

A series of new US immigration and travel measures introduced under the Trump administration has sharply restricted Bangladeshi access to the United States, replacing long-standing pathways based on eligibility and purpose with requirements centered on financial capacity and nationality.

The United States government from January 21 is suspending all types of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries.

These include Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as Afghanistan, Kuwait, Somalia, Iran, Russia, Thailand, Nigeria, Yemen, Iraq, Brazil, and many other countries.

The US Embassy in Dhaka has said that visa applicants who have already received interview appointments will be interviewed according to the scheduled rules and timings until the visa suspension comes into effect.

However, signs of a more restrictive approach are already evident in the processing of immigrant visas.

According to US State Department, the pause is intended to ensure that future immigrants are financially self-sufficient and do not rely on public assistance. No timeline has been announced for lifting the restriction.

“The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.

The freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” it added.

The State Department further said, “We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused. The Trump Administration will always put America first.”

On the issue, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan at the Secretariat on Thursday said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the security adviser would formulate a course of action and engage with the United States in this regard.

“The US government has decided that such restrictions and conditions will be imposed on countries from which large numbers of immigrants go, from which people seek political asylum or from which people become dependent on their social services,” she said.

Asked whether the new US decision on immigrant visas had been discussed at the advisory council meeting, she said that the United States had cited several reasons for the decision.

“Therefore, our Foreign Ministry and our security adviser will certainly work out a strategy on this and engage with the United States,” she said.

Alongside the immigrant visa suspension, Bangladeshi nationals seeking non-immigrant B1 (business) or B2 (tourism) visas are also facing new financial conditions.

Under a US visa bond program recently announced, applicants from Bangladesh may be required to deposit refundable bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 before traveling to the United States.

US officials say the bond requirement is aimed at reducing visa overstays by creating a financial incentive for visitors to leave the country before their authorised stay expires.

For Bangladeshi applicants, however, the amounts involved far exceed average household savings. At current exchange rates, the highest bond is equivalent to more than Tk18 lakh.

Regarding the issue, Foreign Adviser Md Tauhid Hossain recently told said the government is engaging with US authorities to seek clarity and raise concerns about the broader consequences of the measures.

“If they impose restrictions on some countries, it does not seem very unusual to me. Of course, it is unfortunate. It is painful for us.

But it is not unusual,” he said. “The only solution will be if we can stop irregular migration,” he added.

About government’s steps, he said, “This has only just happened. We will proceed through the usual channels. We will try to ensure that we are exempted from this.”

Practical obstacles extend beyond the bond itself. Country’s foreign exchange regulations make it difficult for individuals to legally transfer such large sums abroad.

Bankers and travelers report that raising and moving the required funds often involves lengthy approvals, documentation hurdles, or the use of informal channels.

Even when travelers comply with all visa conditions and return on time, the refund process remains uncertain.

Returned bond amounts sent back to Bangladesh frequently face scrutiny from local banks, delays in clearance, or requests for additional paperwork, according to multiple visa applicants and financial sector officials.

Meanwhile, during his recent meeting with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker in Washington, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman requested her to ease travel of Bangladesh businessmen to US in the context of the recent visa bond.

Hooker recognised the matter and assured that the US government will positively consider the step.

In addition, many visas issued under the scheme are single-entry, valid for a maximum stay of 30 days, and require entry through only three designated US airports: Boston, New York’s JFK, or Washington Dulles. Failure to comply with these conditions can result in bond forfeiture or future visa denial.

Adding to the pressure on Bangladeshi families is a new US remittance levy imposing an additional tax of $1 for every $100 sent abroad.

Bangladesh, one of the world’s largest recipients of remittances, relies heavily on these transfers for household income and foreign exchange reserves.

Economists warn the tax may reduce formal remittance flows and encourage the use of informal money transfer systems, weakening financial oversight and transparency.

While US officials maintain that the measures are designed to protect domestic economic interests and ensure compliance with visa rules, analysts say the combined effect amounts to a class-based filter that favors wealthy travelers with access to offshore accounts while excluding middle-income families.

Diplomats and policy analysts caution that prolonged restrictions could strain people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and the United States, particularly in education, business, and cultural exchange.

As of now, the US government has not indicated when the immigrant visa suspension will end or whether the bond requirements will be revised.

Citing data from the US Census Bureau, the Pew Research Center said about 300,000 people in the United States identified as Bangladeshi in 2023.

Due to data limitations, this figure includes only those who identified solely as Bangladeshi, and the number of immigrant visa holders among them could not be confirmed.

According to Pew, the immigrant population in the US stood at 51.9 million as of June last year, accounting for 15.4 percent of the total population.