The United States has expanded a visa bond policy to include Bangladesh and 24 other countries, requiring citizens of these nations to post refundable bonds of up to $15,000 as part of their application for a U.S. visitor visa, according to the U.S. State Department website.

Under the updated programme, passport holders from the newly added countries could be asked to pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 at the time of their visa interview if they are otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 tourism or business visa.

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Payment must be made through the U.S. Treasury’s online platform, Pay.gov.

The list of affected countries now totals 38, mainly from South Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

In addition to Bangladesh, the expanded roster includes nations such as Algeria, Cuba, Nepal, Nigeria and Venezuela. The new requirements are set to take effect January 21, 2026.

U.S. officials say the bond requirement is intended to discourage visitors from overstaying their visas.

However, the policy has drawn criticism for potentially making travel to the U.S. unaffordable for many applicants from developing countries. Although paying a bond does not guarantee a visa, applicants who are denied or who comply with visa terms can receive refunds.

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The bond expansion is part of broader tightening of U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump, including increased deportations, visa and green card revocations, and extended scrutiny of applicants’ social media histories, all defended by the administration as measures to enhance national security.