The US Embassy in Dhaka announced on Tuesday that Bangladeshi students studying in the United States under F or M visas are exempt from the newly introduced visa bond requirement. According to the embassy’s statement, the bond applies only to business or tourism (B1/B2) visa applicants in specific cases.

The clarification follows an earlier embassy notice issued on Monday, which stated that from January 21, Bangladeshi citizens approved for business or tourism visas must deposit up to 15,000 US dollars as a visa bond to prevent overstaying. The embassy also noted that those holding valid B1/B2 visas issued before January 21 are not subject to this condition. Applicants were cautioned not to pay the bond before their interview, as early payment does not guarantee visa approval and may expose them to fraudulent third-party websites.

The embassy further stated that the bond amount would be refunded if visa conditions are properly followed. The US Department of State had earlier listed Bangladesh among 38 countries whose citizens may be required to post such a bond when applying for entry to the United States.