Bangladeshis face financial uncertainty as United States confirms visa bonds up to USD 15 thousand do not guarantee visa approval, creating significant risk for applicants starting January 26.

State Department explicitly stated that posting required bonds between USD 5,000-15,000 does not assure B1 or B2 visa issuance, leaving Bangladeshi travellers vulnerable to losing substantial deposits without obtaining travel authorization.

“Posting a bond does not guarantee visa issuance”, State Department website clarified, highlighting that applicants must pay bonds upfront during visa interviews whilst facing potential rejection based on standard eligibility criteria.

Trump administration added Bangladesh to an expanded list of 38 countries whose citizens must post financial bonds for business and tourist visas. Bond amounts will be determined by consular officers assessing individual overstay risks using Department of Homeland Security data.

Applicants must complete Form I-352 and process payments through official platform Pay.gov. State Department warned against unauthorised payments, stating they will not be refunded under any circumstances.

Visa application fees remain non-refundable and non-transferable separately from bond requirements. Rejected applicants face delayed bond refunds through separate administrative processes, creating extended financial uncertainty.

Bonds are refunded only if Department of Homeland Security records timely departure, if traveller never visits United States before visa expiration, or if admission is denied at port of entry. However, refund processing timelines remain unspecified.

Human rights organisations criticised the policy as discriminatory, arguing it creates disproportionate barriers for middle-income families whilst providing no certainty of visa approval despite substantial financial commitments.

Source: US State Department, US Embassy Dhaka