The United States has decided to suspend all visa processing for citizens of Bangladesh and 74 other countries, with the freeze taking effect from January 21, 2026. A US State Department spokesperson confirmed the decision on Wednesday, though no further details on the duration or scope were provided.
Reuters reported the news, citing an initial disclosure by Fox News that referenced a State Department memo instructing embassies to reject visa applications during an ongoing review process with no specified end date.
The suspension covers all visa categories and is expected to particularly affect applicants who are elderly, overweight, or have previously received government cash assistance. Exceptions for extraordinary visas will be extremely limited.
Affected Countries and Stated Purpose
The list of 75 countries includes Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cรดte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
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State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated: โThis measure is intended to prevent the entry of individuals who may become dependent on public welfare or government assistance in the United States (public charge rule).โ
The policy is widely seen as a continuation of President Donald Trumpโs hardline immigration stance, which intensified after a November incident in which an Afghan national fatally shot a National Guard member near the White House. Trump had pledged to halt immigration from what he called โthird-world countries.โ
Additional Immigration and Economic Pressure on Bangladesh
Last week, the Trump administration added Bangladesh and 24 other countries to a list requiring citizens to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 when applying for B1/B2 (business/tourist) visas. The State Department website states: โAny citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bondโฆ The amount is determined at the time of the visa interview.โ
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Diplomatic sources also report that Washington is pressing Bangladesh for the rapid repatriation of approximately 5,000 undocumented Bangladeshis currently in the US. Over the past year, about 300 have been deportedโmany in handcuffs and shacklesโwhile another 300 are eligible and roughly 4,000 remain in irregular status with pending court cases.
The United States is additionally demanding that Bangladesh significantly increase imports from the US to narrow the bilateral trade gapโan issue that has been a consistent priority since the Trump administration took office in early 2025.
These matters are expected to dominate discussions during National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahmanโs ongoing five-day visit to Washington. Rahman arrived on Wednesday and held talks on Thursday with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapoor also participating.
US Strategic and Military Engagement Under the Yunus Regime
The visa freeze and repatriation pressure come against the backdrop of rapidly deepening US military and strategic involvement in Bangladesh under the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
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– US-Made Drone Manufacturing Facility
In August 2025, the US Embassy announced collaboration with the Bangladesh Army and Navy to develop an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) capability. A joint Bangladesh Regiment (Army and Navy personnel) is being established to manufacture and operate the highly sophisticated RQ-21 Blackjack drone system for maritime domain awareness, border security, and UN peacekeeping missions.
– Push for Defense Agreements
During the Hasina era, former US Ambassador Peter Haas repeatedly offered advanced military capabilitiesโincluding the RQ-21 Blackjack UAS, patrol boats, and Foreign Military Salesโcontingent on Bangladesh signing the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). The Yunus administration has shown greater willingness to pursue such pacts.
– Enhanced Military Joint Cooperation
Since August 2025, Bangladesh and US forces have conducted three joint military exercises. Previous US deliveries include small UAS systems to SWADS and Para Commandos in 2022, along with modern weapons, ammunition, body armor, advanced radios, and medical equipment.
– Efforts to Award Ports to US-Linked Groups
There are persistent reports and allegations that the interim government is facilitating the awarding of strategic deep-sea port projects (including Payra and Matarbari) or related concessions to companies or consortia with strong US or US-aligned interests, as part of broader efforts to counter Chinese influence in the Bay of Bengal.
– Facilitation of Rakhine Corridor and Support for Arakan Army
Multiple sources and opposition voices have accused the Yunus regime of quietly allowing or facilitating the establishment of a humanitarian or logistical corridor through southeastern Bangladesh (Coxโs BazarโTeknaf region) to support the Arakan Army in Myanmarโs Rakhine State. Critics claim this is being done with tacit US encouragement as part of a strategy to weaken Myanmarโs military junta and contain Chinese influence along the Bay of BengalโAndaman Sea axis.
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These developments contrast sharply with the Biden administrationโs approach, which focused on sanctions against the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and visa restrictions on individuals accused of undermining democratic processes.
The combination of visa suspension, bond requirements, repatriation demands, and intensified strategic-military engagement has raised serious concerns in Dhaka about the long-term implications for sovereignty, migration, remittances, and national security under the current interim framework. Neither the interim government nor the US Embassy in Dhaka has issued an official response to the latest visa freeze announcement as of January 15, 2026.
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