New financial requirements have been imposed on Bangladeshis seeking to obtain a tourist or business visa to the United States. According to an updated decision by the US State Department, Bangladesh is now included in the list of countries that require a ‘visa bond’. As a result, applicants for tourist or business visas will have to deposit a security deposit ranging from $5,000 to a maximum of $15,000.
The list, released on Tuesday (January 6), includes a total of 38 countries, including Bangladesh. The Trump administration has significantly expanded the list of seven countries in just a week.
The State Department said that this rule will be effective for Bangladesh from January 21. However, this rule does not apply to student or other categories of visas; it will only be effective for tourist and business visas.
Under the new rules, Bangladeshis entering the United States under a visa bond will be able to use only three designated airports—Boston Logan International Airport, New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport. Outside of these three, there will be no opportunity to enter or depart the United States through any other airport.
According to US authorities, this ‘visa bond’ system has been introduced to tighten immigration rules and ensure compliance with visa conditions.