DHAKA: The US Embassy in Dhaka has warned Bangladeshi visa applicants not to pay any visa bond before their interview, saying advance payments neither guarantee approval nor prevent fraud.

In a Facebook statement, the embassy said payments made before interviews are non-refundable and that third-party sites offering bond services may be scams.

The warning comes ahead of a US policy effective January 21 requiring some Bangladeshi B1/B2 visa holders to post bonds of up to USD 15,000.

The bond amount, if required, will be decided during the interview and paid only through the US Treasury’s official platform.