U.S. Ends Immigrant Visa Pause for Bangladeshis, B1/B2 Visa Bond Remains
The United States has lifted the temporary pause on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, while a separate visa-bond requirement for certain Bangladeshi B1/B2 applicants remains in effect.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the January 2026 pause on immigrant visa issuance ended August 21, 2026, following a court order in the case of CLINIC et al. v. Rubio et al. The State Department announced the update on August 28.
The pause, which began January 21, had temporarily stopped the issuance of immigrant visas to nationals of the 75 countries. However, applicants could still submit applications and attend scheduled visa interviews during the pause.
With the suspension no longer in effect, Bangladeshi applicants can once again have their immigrant visa cases processed under the applicable immigration laws and requirements. The lifting of the pause does not guarantee visa issuance, as applicants must still meet eligibility, security-screening and other legal requirements.
The State Department also said the January pause did not cancel any valid immigrant visas and did not apply to tourist visas, which are nonimmigrant visas.
However, Bangladesh remains on the U.S. State Department’s list of countries subject to visa bonds. The list was updated October 2, 2026, and shows Bangladesh with an implementation date of January 21, 2026.
Under the visa-bond program, Bangladeshi citizens who are otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa may be required to post a bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000. The amount is determined by a consular officer at the time of the visa interview. Applicants must also submit Form I-352 as part of the bond process.
The State Department stresses that applicants should post a visa bond only after being specifically instructed to do so by a consular officer. Eligible applicants receive payment instructions through the U.S. government’s Pay.gov system and should not send money through third-party websites.
The two policies are therefore separate. The 75-country immigrant visa pause has ended, meaning Bangladeshi nationals are no longer subject to that specific suspension. At the same time, Bangladesh remains covered by the separate B1/B2 visa-bond program.
Bangladeshi visa applicants should therefore check the requirements for their specific visa category and follow the latest instructions from the U.S. Embassy and the Department of State.
