US Visa bond: Visitors to be hit the hardest

Bangladesh’s addition to a US visa bond list could disrupt travel and trade, potentially hurting small businesses and ordinary visitors, experts said.

Expressing disappointment, a Bangladeshi PhD student in Texas told The Daily Star that the bond added to his stress. “We already live far from our families. Now, even short family visits will become a privilege only for wealthy households.”

Another PhD student in California said, “I wanted my parents to attend my graduation, but now that seems almost impossible.”

Many Bangladeshi visa applicants, business owners, echoed the same sentiment.

Under the new policy, Bangladeshi citizens applying for US business or tourist visas -- known as B1 and B2 visas -- may require to deposit a refundable bond of $5,000 to $15,000.

In Bangladeshi currency, this amounts to roughly Tk 6 lakh to Tk 19 lakh, a sum many say is difficult to arrange.

The US State Department recently expanded its visa bond list from seven countries to 38. Bangladesh was added on January 6, and the new requirement will take effect on January 21.

The visa bond programme began in August last year. The bond applies only to B1 and B2 visas, and the amount -- $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 -- will be determined during the visa interview.

Consular officers will decide whether a bond is required and, if so, the amount, based on the applicant’s personal circumstances and interview assessment. They may also issue a visa without requiring any bond.

Payment must be made through Pay.gov, the official online payment platform of the US Treasury, using a government-issued link. US authorities have warned against using third-party websites. Payments made without official instruction or through unofficial platforms will not be refunded.

 The State Department has also clarified that paying a bond does not automatically guarantee a US visa.

 WHY DID THE US INTRODUCE THE BOND RULE?

US officials say the bond requirement is intended to reduce visa overstays and illegal immigration, a major focus of the administration of US President Donald Trump.

According to the Fiscal Year 2024 Entry/Exit Overstay Report by US Customs and Border Protection, Bangladesh recorded a total overstay rate of 5.73 percent. Of this, 5.60 percent were suspected in-country overstays, meaning more than 2,200 of 38,590 expected departures either overstayed their visas or were suspected of doing so. The report said India’s overstay rate was 1.28 percent, Nepal’s 3.12 percent, and Pakistan’s 3.46 percent.

Immigration experts say countries with overstay rates significantly above the global average of 2.33 percent for non-visa waiver countries are more likely to face stricter entry controls.

Meanwhile, Bangladeshi business leaders have warned that the new US visa restrictions could disrupt trade and export activities.

AK Azad, chairman and managing director of Ha-Meem Group, one of the largest apparel exporters to the US, said the company could face serious challenges due to changes in visa regulations.

He explained that many staff members travel to the US frequently to carry samples, meet clients, and perform other business-critical tasks at customers’ request.

 “If our staff cannot travel as required, this will significantly affect us,” he said.

Ashraf Ahmed, former president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), said the restrictions could affect smaller businesses in particular.

Mir Nasir Hossain, former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), urged the government to seek clarification from US authorities.

Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, echoed his peers and said any curb on travel would negatively affect exports.

Rizwan Rahman, another former DCCI president, said Bangladesh’s weak standing in global reports had led to the move, though he said it would not affect large entrepreneurs.

Experts also say the US move may hit travel agencies, airlines, and tour operators badly, and it could damage the country’s international image, potentially prompting other countries to tighten visa rules for Bangladeshis.

Abdus Salam Aref, former president of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB), said the new visa bond rule would sharply reduce travel from Bangladesh.

He said if flights are not increased to the three airports designated for Bangladeshi travellers -- Boston Logan International Airport, New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport –ticket prices may soar.

Using other airports would violate bond conditions and complicate refunds, he said. 

According to Aref, the bond may be forfeited if a visitor overstays, applies for asylum, seeks a change of visa status, or violates the approved duration of stay. If the traveller leaves the US within the permitted time or does not travel at all, the bond will be refunded, he said, adding that it is not clear how it will be done.

Prof Tasneem Siddiqui, acting executive director of Refugee and Migratory Movements, said the policy could disrupt overall migration to the US.

“While major businesses may not be affected, small business owners will face the greatest difficulty because they cannot block such large sums as bonds for a fixed period.”

Foreign Ministry Adviser Touhid Hossain described the decision as “unfortunate, but not abnormal.” “It is not imposed on Bangladesh alone… To me, it is nothing abnormal, but certainly unfortunate,” he told reporters yesterday.

He added that the government has been working to prevent illegal migration and crack down on brokers facilitating irregular travel.

“Dhaka will, in a natural way, reach out to Washington to have Bangladesh removed from the list,” he said.