Beginning 21 January 2026, Bangladeshi nationals approved for new B-1/B-2 visitor visas will have to post a U.S.$15,000 “departure bond” before they can travel to the United States.
The requirement was announced on 19 January by the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka and is being implemented under section 214(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows consular officers to demand a financial guarantee when they believe an applicant may overstay. Officials said the refundable bond is intended to improve compliance with U.S. immigration law after years of comparatively high overstay rates on Bangladeshi visitor visas (3.66 % in FY 2025, more than triple the global average).
Only visas issued on or after 21 January will be subject to the bond. Travelers who already hold valid B-1/B-2 visas will not be affected, nor will Bangladeshi citizens using other visa classes (e.g., F-1 students or H-1B workers). The embassy stressed that applicants should **not** pay any money in advance and warned that third-party “bond facilitation” websites are often fraudulent. The bond will be returned in full once the traveler departs the United States on time and without status violations; if the visitor overstays, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will retain the funds and may initiate additional penalties.
![U.S. to Require Up to $15,000 Bond for Bangladeshi B-1/B-2 Visa Holders Starting Jan 21]()
For applicants looking for hands-on guidance, VisaHQ’s specialists can walk you through the bond posting procedure, monitor refund timelines, and identify alternative visa strategies where appropriate. Their platform streamlines U.S. visa applications online and keeps travelers up to date on policy changes—learn more at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/.
For employers, tour operators and travel managers, the policy raises the cost and administrative burden of sending Bangladeshi employees or clients to the United States on short-term business. Companies should build the deposit into travel budgets and allow extra lead time for visa issuance. Organizations with frequent Bangladeshi travelers may wish to explore alternative visa classifications (such as the B-1 in lieu of H-1B) that are not covered by the bond or consider using third-country nationals when feasible.
The departure-bond pilot echoes a 2020–2021 State Department program that required bonds of US$5,000–$15,000 for certain African and Asian countries. Although that pilot lapsed, today’s policy marks a sharp escalation in compliance measures and may foreshadow broader use of financial guarantees for other high-overstay nationalities if DHS deems the approach effective.
The requirement was announced on 19 January by the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka and is being implemented under section 214(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows consular officers to demand a financial guarantee when they believe an applicant may overstay. Officials said the refundable bond is intended to improve compliance with U.S. immigration law after years of comparatively high overstay rates on Bangladeshi visitor visas (3.66 % in FY 2025, more than triple the global average).
Only visas issued on or after 21 January will be subject to the bond. Travelers who already hold valid B-1/B-2 visas will not be affected, nor will Bangladeshi citizens using other visa classes (e.g., F-1 students or H-1B workers). The embassy stressed that applicants should **not** pay any money in advance and warned that third-party “bond facilitation” websites are often fraudulent. The bond will be returned in full once the traveler departs the United States on time and without status violations; if the visitor overstays, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will retain the funds and may initiate additional penalties.
For applicants looking for hands-on guidance, VisaHQ’s specialists can walk you through the bond posting procedure, monitor refund timelines, and identify alternative visa strategies where appropriate. Their platform streamlines U.S. visa applications online and keeps travelers up to date on policy changes—learn more at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/.
For employers, tour operators and travel managers, the policy raises the cost and administrative burden of sending Bangladeshi employees or clients to the United States on short-term business. Companies should build the deposit into travel budgets and allow extra lead time for visa issuance. Organizations with frequent Bangladeshi travelers may wish to explore alternative visa classifications (such as the B-1 in lieu of H-1B) that are not covered by the bond or consider using third-country nationals when feasible.
The departure-bond pilot echoes a 2020–2021 State Department program that required bonds of US$5,000–$15,000 for certain African and Asian countries. Although that pilot lapsed, today’s policy marks a sharp escalation in compliance measures and may foreshadow broader use of financial guarantees for other high-overstay nationalities if DHS deems the approach effective.
