The United States has announced the suspension of immigrant visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, dealing a major blow to thousands of Bangladeshis hoping to settle permanently in the country with their families.
The move has effectively closed pathways for family reunification, including marriage-based immigration to the US.
In addition, Bangladeshi applicants for US business and tourist visas will now be required to post a security deposit, or visa bond, of up to USD 15,000. The bond is intended to ensure visa holders leave the United States within the authorized period. Overstaying would be treated as a violation of US immigration law or the visa bond conditions.
The US administration said the decision to halt immigrant visas aims to reduce the number of foreign residents who rely on American government financial assistance. Bangladesh ranks 19th on a list titled “Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin,” which shows that 54.8% of Bangladeshi immigrant families in the US receive government benefits. Other South Asian countries on the list include Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nepal, while India and Sri Lanka are absent.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain described the visa bond requirement for Bangladeshis as unfortunate but not unusual. “Among those who receive money from the US social system, the number of Bangladeshis is the highest. If restrictions are imposed on certain countries, Bangladesh will be included. That does not seem abnormal to me,” he said.
Increased scrutiny of Bangladeshi passports
Since the political shift on August 5, 2024, Bangladeshi passports have come under heightened scrutiny at immigration checkpoints in multiple countries. While travelers from other countries are not subjected to the same level of checks, Bangladeshi passport holders frequently face additional questioning, including at airports in Nepal and the Maldives. Travel bloggers have also reported similar experiences.
Several countries have imposed additional conditions on visas for Bangladeshi nationals. Egypt, which previously offered conditional visa-on-arrival facilities, has introduced new restrictions.
Rising visa rejections worldwide
Industry insiders and frequent travelers say visa complications for Bangladeshis have persisted for the past two to two-and-a-half years, with rejection rates rising sharply over the last year. Countries frequently rejecting Bangladeshi visa applications include Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Egypt.
Uzbekistan, once considered an easy destination for Bangladeshi travelers, has stopped issuing visas. Thai visa applicants now face waiting periods exceeding one month. Vietnam has fully closed visas for Bangladeshis, while Indonesia has imposed limitations. Australia has also recorded an increase in visa rejection rates.
India has suspended tourist visas for Bangladeshis since August 5, 2024, creating knock-on effects for travel to Europe. Several European countries lack embassies in Dhaka and process visas through their missions in New Delhi. Applicants must appear in person, requiring Indian double-entry visas.
For higher education visas, some embassies require multiple interviews, forcing applicants to remain in India for extended periods. While most Western European visas are issued in Dhaka, Eastern European visas are largely processed in Delhi. Limited access to Indian visas has emerged as a major obstacle for Bangladeshi students and job seekers.
Previously, the Swedish Embassy in Dhaka processed visas for Belgium and the Netherlands. These applications are now handled separately through VFS centers.
Higher education visas face tighter controls
The Netherlands has announced stricter screening for higher education visas. Netherlands Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris van Bommel said many applicants attempt to use education as a pretext to stay in the country rather than to study. “For the past few months, we have been checking more strictly,”
Brac Associate Director Shariful Hasan said Bangladesh now faces a negative international perception. “There is an idea that people from Bangladesh do not want to stay in the country, that they are crossing seas to reach Europe, and that people apply for visas even when they are not students. As a result, those who travel legally face harassment,” he said.
Calls to relocate European visa centers go unanswered
In December 2024, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met ambassadors from 19 European Union countries to discuss visa complications. He proposed relocating visa centers from New Delhi to Dhaka or neighboring countries, arguing it would benefit both Bangladesh and the EU.
EU diplomats, however, said establishing new visa offices would be costly and time-consuming. While alternatives were suggested, countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia have restricted visas for Bangladeshis. Both South Asian and Western countries are tightening visa regimes, complicating access to overseas education.
A Foreign Ministry official said repeated appeals were made to relocate visa centers to Bangladesh, but foreign missions cited logistical constraints.
UAE visa restrictions persist
The United Arab Emirates suspended all visas for citizens of several countries, including Bangladesh, in 2012, citing rising criminal activity. Work visas for Bangladeshis remain closed more than a decade later.
As Bangladeshi nationals increasingly used visit visas for employment, visit visas were also restricted. The option to convert visit visas into work visas has been closed for several years.
Following protests by Bangladeshi expatriates in support of the July movement, the UAE halted all visa issuance. Only “skill visas” and “high-profile visas” are currently available. Despite two formal requests from the chief adviser, the UAE has not responded. However, the UAE president has pardoned all Bangladeshis convicted over the protests and repatriated them.
Australia tightens student visa rules
Visa delays and embassy limitations have made higher education in Europe increasingly difficult for Bangladeshi students. Australia had emerged as a comparatively accessible destination, but new restrictions are now being introduced.
On January 15, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs classified several South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, as high-risk, citing concerns over declining document integrity. These countries were downgraded from “Evidence Level 2” to “Evidence Level 3,” triggering stricter screening and visa approval processes. Nearly one-third of Australia’s international students last year came from these four countries.
Labor markets remain closed
According to the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), Bangladeshi workers migrated to 141 countries in 2025, though 90% went to just five destinations. Only 8% migrated to 14 countries.
Data from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training show that major labor markets—including Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Malaysia, Egypt, Romania, and Brunei—remain closed. Worker migration to the UAE has halted, while Italy’s work permit verification process has slowed. Although Bangladesh has signed agreements with Libya, worker deployment has not begun. Mauritius issues very few visas to Bangladeshis.
Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Asif Nazrul said Bangladesh is seeking to diversify labor markets beyond the Middle East.
Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) leader Fakhrul Islam said expectations for reopening labor markets have not been met. “Saudi Arabia is currently the main destination, but iqama delays are pushing workers into undocumented status. Markets like the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman must be reopened through diplomatic efforts. Malaysia remains closed despite being one of our largest markets.”
Migration expert Dr Md Jalal Uddin Sikder said insufficient research hampers strategic planning. “We lack clear data on current and future demand for skilled Bangladeshi workers in Europe, which limits our ability to respond effectively,”
