Washington. America has made visitor visa rules more stringent for travelers coming from Bangladesh. The US Embassy in Dhaka has announced that from January 21, 2026, Bangladeshi citizens will have to deposit a bond of up to US $ 15,000 after getting B1 (Business) and B2 (Tourist) visas. This step has been taken by America to prevent violation of visa rules and overstay cases. After this decision, Bangladesh has become one of the selected countries on whose citizens America is keeping additional financial surveillance.

Who will have to give the bond?
According to the US Embassy, ​​this rule will apply only to those applicants who will be issued a new B1 or B2 visa on or after January 21, 2026. This rule will not apply to those who already have a valid visa. The embassy clarified that the bond is not a condition of visa application, but a formality after visa approval. If the traveler returns to America within the stipulated period following all the rules, this amount will be refunded.

Warning to avoid fraud
The US Embassy has strictly warned people not to make any payment before the visa interview. The embassy said that prepayment does not guarantee a visa and many third-party websites may be fraudulent. Any payment made before the interview will be non-refundable.

Why increased strictness on Bangladesh
Bangladesh has recently joined America’s immigration watchlist, where other countries like Pakistan are also named. According to reports, cases of visa overstay and illegal migration have forced America to take strict measures.

A stronger message than technical change
Although America is calling it only a compliance arrangement, this decision is also being considered as a diplomatic signal for Bangladesh. Due to this, traveling to America can become expensive and difficult for ordinary Bangladeshi citizens. Now it remains to be seen whether this bond arrangement improves compliance with visa rules or affects people-to-people relations between the two countries.