US Embassy in Dhaka has announced a new rule for Bangladeshi citizens applying for US business and tourist visas (B1/B2). From January 21, 2026, applicants will have to pay a visa bond of up to 15,000 US dollars after their visa is approved. The rule applies to people applying for B1/B2 visas, which are used for business and tourism. People who already have a valid B1/B2 visa issued before January 21, 2026, will not be affected by this new rule.
Starting January 21, 2026, all Bangladeshis approved for a B1/B2 (business/tourist) U.S. visa must pay a bond of up to $15,000. This requirement does not apply to people holding a valid B1/B2 visa issued before January 21, 2026.
— U.S. Embassy Dhaka (@usembassydhaka) January 19, 2026
Do NOT pay your bond in advance. Paying early… pic.twitter.com/c7CMmJxQmt
Bond must be paid only after visa approval
The embassy has clearly said that applicants should not pay any bond before their visa interview. Paying money in advance does not mean the visa will be approved. The embassy warned that many third-party websites claiming to help with bond payments may be scams. Any money paid before the interview or without official instructions will not be returned. The bond must be paid only after a consular officer approves the visa and asks the applicant to do so.
How and where the bond should be paid
After visa approval, applicants will be told to submit Form I-352 to post the bond. They will receive a direct payment link through Pay.gov. Applicants must not use any third-party websites to pay the bond. The US government will not take responsibility for any money paid outside its official system. Paying a bond does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. If someone pays without being told to do so by a consular officer, the money will not be refunded.
When the bond money will be returned
The bond money will be returned automatically in certain situations. This includes cases where the visa holder leaves the United States on or before the allowed date, does not travel to the US before the visa expires, or is denied entry at the US airport. The bond is meant to make sure visitors follow all visa rules during their stay in the United States.
People who pay the visa bond must enter and leave the United States only through specific ports of entry chosen by US authorities. If they do not follow this rule, they may be denied entry or their exit may not be recorded properly. The bond terms are written on Form I-352 and on the official US travel website.
What happens if visa rules are broken
If US authorities believe a visa holder has broken the bond rules, the case will be sent to US Citizenship and Immigration Services for review. A bond may be considered broken if the person stays in the US longer than allowed, does not leave the country, or applies to change their visa status, including asking for asylum. Embassy has advised all visa applicants to carefully follow official instructions and avoid making any payments unless clearly told to do so after visa approval. The embassy stressed that only official government channels should be used for any visa bond payments.
List of countries whose citizens will need to pay visa bonds
The US Department of State has identified the following countries whose nationals may need to post visa bonds. The dates show when the rule starts for each country:
Algeria (January 21, 2026)
Angola (January 21, 2026)
Antigua and Barbuda (January 21, 2026)
Bangladesh (January 21, 2026)
Benin (January 21, 2026)
Bhutan (January 1, 2026)
Botswana (January 1, 2026)
Burundi (January 21, 2026)
Cabo Verde (January 21, 2026)
Central African Republic (January 1, 2026)
Cote d’Ivoire (January 21, 2026)
Cuba (January 21, 2026)
Djibouti (January 21, 2026)
Dominica (January 21, 2026)
Fiji (January 21, 2026)
Gabon (January 21, 2026)
The Gambia (October 11, 2025)
Guinea (January 1, 2026)
Guinea Bissau (January 1, 2026)
Kyrgyzstan (January 21, 2026)
Malawi (August 20, 2025)
Mauritania (October 23, 2025)
Namibia (January 1, 2026)
Nepal (January 21, 2026)
Nigeria (January 21, 2026)
Sao Tome and Principe (October 23, 2025)
Senegal (January 21, 2026)
Tajikistan (January 21, 2026)
Tanzania (October 23, 2025)
Togo (January 21, 2026)
Tonga (January 21, 2026)
Turkmenistan (January 1, 2026)
Tuvalu (January 21, 2026)
Uganda (January 21, 2026)
Vanuatu (January 21, 2026)
Venezuela (January 21, 2026)
Zambia (August 20, 2025)
Zimbabwe (January 21, 2026)