Bangladeshi Passport Crisis: Valid Visas No Longer Guarantee Entry

(UNITED STATES) — the trump administration began enforcing new travel restrictions on Bangladeshi nationals this month, tightening entry rules and adding a looming requirement for up to $15,000 in refundable visa bonds that Bangladeshis and immigration officials say is reshaping travel at global immigration counters.

“Effective January 1, 2026, the United States is fully or partially suspending entry for and visa issuance to nationals of 39 countries [including bangladesh],” the Department of State said in a statement dated Dec 19, 2025.

bangladeshi travelers have already faced “unprecedented scrutiny, mass entry denials, and new financial barriers at immigration counters worldwide, despite holding valid visas,” as the Bangladeshi passport crisis reached what officials and travelers described as a peak on January 9, 2026.

U.S. policy actions and the bond requirement

President Trump issued Presidential Proclamation 10998 on Dec 16, 2025, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” expanding earlier security-based restrictions and placing partial entry restrictions on Bangladesh.

• The partial restrictions specifically target nonimmigrant visitor (B1/B2) and student (F, M, J) visa categories.
• The administration framed the action as a security-driven measure:

“We are protecting our nation and its citizens by using rigorous, security-focused screening and vetting procedures to ensure that individuals approved for a visa do not endanger national security or public safety,” the Department of State said in its Dec 19, 2025 statement.

A separate U.S. Embassy Dhaka (Visa Alerts) notice stated: “Starting January 21, 2026, nationals of Bangladesh who are found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond of up to $15,000.” The notice added: “At the time of the interview, the consular officer will inform the applicant whether they are eligible. B1/B2 visas for nationals of Bangladesh cannot be issued until the bond has been paid.”

• Refundable bond amounts of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 will be set by consular officers based on assessed “overstay risk.”
• Applicants could pass ordinary eligibility checks yet still be required to post a bond before a visa is issued.

How the bond and restrictions change travel processes

• What was once a standard interview-and-decision process can now demand large cash outlays before visas are granted.
• The bond creates a financial barrier that many travelers — including students, small business owners, and middle-income families — describe as insurmountable.
• The bond pilot program is scheduled to start on January 21, 2026, creating an urgent deadline for those with time-sensitive travel.

Reported impacts and incidents

Travel uncertainty for Bangladeshis has extended beyond the U.S. bond program. Even travelers who do not require a B1/B2 visa bond report heightened scrutiny and “offloading” — denied boarding or entry without explanation — at transit hubs across Southeast and Western Asia.

Key statistics and incidents:

• The figures illustrate how quickly decisions at immigration counters can override valid travel documents.
• These incidents have spread through social media and recruitment networks, amplifying anxiety among potential travelers.

Causes and context

Multiple factors appear to have converged to produce the crisis:

• A July 2024 uprising and the subsequent ouster of the previous administration contributed to perceptions of Bangladesh as a potential source of asylum seekers.
• Authorities cite inadequate vetting and information-sharing systems, which Western governments have used to justify restrictions.
• Analysts and officials point to syndicate abuse, where fraudulent agencies send laborers abroad on tourist visas to seek illegal work; this practice has contributed to broader suspicion of Bangladeshi travelers.

Collectively, observers describe the situation as a “systematic breakdown of trust” between Bangladesh and parts of the international community, with immigration officers increasingly treating Bangladeshi passport holders as higher-risk entrants — even when visas are valid.

Practical consequences on travel plans and services

• Consular and visa processing delays have worsened. For example, Thai visa processing in Dhaka reportedly became 45–50 days, up from about one week.
• Travelers affected by delays face cascading consequences: missed program start dates, lost bookings, costly reroutes, and being stranded mid-journey due to offloading.
• The heightened scrutiny occurs both before departure (boarding denials) and upon arrival (refusal of entry), often with little explanation.

What’s included — and what’s not

• The proclamation and bond program have focused on visitor and student categories (B1/B2; F, M, J).
• The material did not describe changes to other nonimmigrant work visa classes, and there was no specific mention of H-1B visas.
• U.S. authorities emphasize these are entry and visa issuance actions rather than changes to USCIS benefit adjudications.

Resources and official postings

• Information from the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka is available at: U.S. Embassy Dhaka (Visa Alerts)
• The Department of State published news on visa issuance suspensions at: U.S. Department of State (Travel News)
• USCIS updates: USCIS Newsroom

Summary: decisions before the immigration counter

For Bangladeshis considering travel, the combination of:

• Partial entry restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10998,
• Potential bond requirements of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, and
• A record of more than 3,500 airport denials in early 2025

has transformed routine trips into high-stakes decisions made long before travelers reach immigration counters. The bond pilot program beginning January 21, 2026 adds a near-term, concrete obligation for many planning to visit the United States.