Bangladeshis applying for US tourist and business visas may now have to deposit up to $20,000 (about Tk24 lakh) as a refundable bond after the United States permanently adopted its controversial visa bond program, a move expected to make travel significantly more expensive for many applicants.

The US State Department announced on Friday that the program, introduced as a pilot in 2025, had successfully reduced visa overstays and would now become a permanent requirement for applicants from 50 countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

The new regulation takes effect on Monday.

Under the permanent rule, consular officers may require applicants for B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas to pay either $10,000 or $20,000 before their visa interview. The earlier $5,000 option available under the pilot program has been withdrawn.

The bond is refundable if the visa application is denied or, if approved, the traveller leaves the United States in compliance with visa conditions.

The decision marks a significant tightening of US immigration policy for travellers from Bangladesh and dozens of other countries identified by Washington as having comparatively high visa overstay rates.

According to the State Department, nearly 45,500 visitors from the 50 listed countries overstayed their visas in 2024.

US officials said the bond program had dramatically reduced overstays during its first 10 months. Fewer than 50 travellers covered by the program eventually overstayed their visas, compared with the much higher figures recorded previously.

The department also revealed that the program sharply reduced demand for US visitor visas.

While officials initially expected around 2,000 applicants each year to be subject to the bond requirement, nearly 20,000 applicants ultimately fell under the program. Almost half declined to pay the required bond, contributing to an 83% drop in the issuance of business and tourist visas to nationals of the affected countries.

The State Department said the program proved effective in discouraging visa overstays and reducing enforcement costs. US authorities estimate that identifying, arresting and deporting a single visa overstay costs the government roughly $18,000.

The visa bond initiative was first introduced by the Trump administration in August 2025 as part of broader efforts to curb illegal immigration and tighten enforcement against people who remain in the country after their visas expire.

Besides Bangladesh, the permanent program covers applicants from Nepal, Bhutan and 47 other countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America.

The State Department also retained the authority to expand the program by adding more countries in the future. The measure is expected to have the greatest impact on travellers seeking to visit relatives, attend business meetings or travel for tourism, particularly those from lower- and middle-income households.

Critics argue that requiring applicants to deposit up to $20,000 creates a significant financial barrier for legitimate travellers and effectively limits access to US visitor visas for many people from developing countries, even though the money is refundable if visa conditions are met.

SM/CitizenTimes