United States Department of State has included Bangladesh along with 37 other countries on its visa bond list.
Under this new policy, citizens from these nations may be required to furnish a “visa bond” of up to US $15,000 when applying for a US entry visa. However, the question remains – what is a visa bond, and how does the pilot programme function?
Primarily, a visa bond is a type of refundable financial security. The government of a country may require such a bond or guarantee from citizens of specific nations before granting them a temporary visa.
The objective is singular – to ensure that visa holders comply with the visa conditions. Additionally, it ensures that travellers depart the country upon the expiry of their authorised stay.
On Monday, an official post was made on the Facebook page of the US Embassy in Dhaka. The post analysed the operational process of the visa bond pilot programme.
The post stated that if found eligible after the visa interview, the consular officer will provide the applicant with payment instructions, including a direct link to pay.gov.
The bond must be paid within 30 days of the application. However, a maximum three-month, single-entry visa will be issued.
Upon completion of all procedures, entry into the US must be made through designated “Ports of Entry”. Bangladeshi passengers can enter the US through three airports: Boston Logan International Airport, John F Kennedy International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport.
US Department of State’s website indicated that entering or exiting through any route other than these designated airports would constitute a breach of the bond conditions.
Upon returning to their home country, if all visa conditions are met, the bond will be automatically cancelled and the money refunded. However, the visa bond terms include not working in the US and returning within the stipulated time.
