Students studying in US on F or M visas will not have to pay visa bonds: US Embassy

Bangladeshi citizens who are approved for a US B1/B2 visa for business or tourism purposes from Wednesday (January 21, 2026), will have to submit a visa bond of up to a maximum of US$15,000.

However, this visa bond will not be applicable to students studying in the US on F or M visas.

The US Embassy in Dhaka gave this information in a message on Tuesday (January 20). The message clarified that only business or tourism (B1/B2) visa applicants will have to pay this bond, where applicable. Student visa holders (F and M) will be exempted from this requirement.

The embassy also said that applicants are requested to visit the government website for accurate and updated information regarding US visas.

Earlier on Monday (January 19), the US Embassy in Dhaka said that the visa bond will be effective for Bangladeshi citizens who are approved for a US B1/B2 visa for business or tourism purposes from January 21, 2026. However, this condition does not apply to holders of valid B1/B2 visas issued before January 21, 2026.

The embassy warned that the bond cannot be paid under any circumstances before the visa interview. Paying the bond in advance does not guarantee obtaining a visa. It has also been warned that some third-party websites may be fraudulent. Any money paid before the interview is non-refundable. However, the bond amount will be refunded later if the visa conditions are followed properly.