US Visa Bond of up to $15,000: Bangladesh, Nepal, and other South Asian countries in the list of affected countries

Bangladesh is in the list of countries that will be subjected to visa bonds from January 21, 2026, as per the data from the US Government of State. The US Embassy in Dhaka has announced that from January 21, 2026, Bangladeshi citizens applying for B1/B2 visas, used for short-term business and tourism travel, may be required to pay a visa bond after their visa is approved. The embassy has clarified that the rule will not apply to applicants who already hold a valid B1/B2 visa issued before that date.

Bangladesh has been added to a list of 38 countries whose citizens may be subject to this bond requirement when applying for B1/B2 visas to the United States.




The Embassy in its post shared on X, further stated, “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. The bond will be returned if you respect the terms of your visa.”

Bond amount and assessment

The amount of the bond to be posted would be subject to the individual assessment performed before the visa interview, according to the embassy. The successful applicants would be asked to post a $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 bond, depending on the discretion of the consular officer when conducting the interview.

The bond is intended as a compliance measure to ensure visitors adhere to US visa conditions, including departing the country within the authorised period.

Do not pay before the interview

The US Embassy Dhaka has issued a clear warning to applicants not to pay any bond before attending their visa interview. In a public advisory, the mission cautioned that paying money in advance does not guarantee visa approval and that many third-party websites offering bond-related services may be fraudulent.



Any payment made before official instructions are issued after visa approval is non-refundable, the embassy said. Applicants are advised to rely only on directions provided directly by US authorities.

How and where the bond must be paid

If a visa is approved and a bond is required, applicants will be instructed to submit Form I-352 to post the bond. Payment must be made through an official link provided via Pay.gov, the online payment platform operated by the US Treasury Department.

The embassy has stressed that no third-party websites or agents are authorised to collect visa bond payments, and the US government will not be responsible for funds paid outside its official systems.

Refund conditions

The visa bond is refundable in specific circumstances. These include cases where the visa holder:

• Leaves the United States on or before the authorised date, or
• Does not travel to the US before the visa expires, or
• Is refused entry at a US port of entry.

The bond is designed to ensure compliance, not to penalise legitimate travellers who follow visa rules.

Entry and exit conditions

Applicants required to post a bond must enter and exit the United States through designated ports of entry specified by US authorities. Failure to follow these instructions could result in denial of entry or problems with recording the individual’s departure, which may affect bond refunds. The full conditions are outlined in Form I-352 and official US government travel guidance.

Consequences of violating visa rules

US officials may report a visa holder to US Citizenship and Immigration Services if they believe that the bond conditions have been violated. If someone overstays, fails to depart the US when they must, or files an application to change their immigration status-which would include an asylum application-their bond will be considered forfeited.

The US Embassy has urged all applicants to carefully follow official instructions and to avoid making any payments unless explicitly directed to do so after visa approval. Only official government channels should be used for all visa bond-related transactions, it said.