The United States of America has long been a popular destination for people around the world, including Bangladeshi citizens, seeking various opportunities such as education, employment, tourism, and family visits. If you’re a Bangladeshi resident considering a trip to the USA, this blog aims to provide you with a comprehensive guide to the visa application process, requirements, and essential information to help you navigate through the procedure smoothly.
A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveler’s country of citizenship.
Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States.
The United States offers several visa categories, each designed to accommodate different purposes of travel. The most common visa types for Bangladeshi citizens include:
a. B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa: For temporary business or tourism purposes.
b. F-1 Student Visa: For individuals seeking to pursue academic studies in the USA.
c. J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa: For individuals participating in cultural exchange programs.
d. H-1B Work Visa: For highly skilled workers sponsored by US employers.
e. K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa: For foreign nationals engaged to marry US citizens.
To apply for a US visa from Bangladesh, follow these general steps:
a. Determine the visa type suitable for your purpose of travel.
b. Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form online. c. Pay the visa application fee.
d. Schedule an appointment for an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate in Dhaka.
e. Gather the necessary supporting documents (passport, photo, financial records, etc.).
f. Attend the visa interview on the scheduled date.
g. Await the visa decision and passport return.
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While specific requirements may vary depending on the visa category, the following are common documents you will likely need:
a. Valid passport with a minimum of six months’ validity beyond the intended period of stay.
b. Digital photograph meeting the specified guidelines.
c. Completed DS-160 form with the confirmation page.
d. Proof of payment for the visa application fee.
e. Supporting documents related to the purpose of travel (invitation letters, enrollment documents, etc.).
f. Proof of financial solvency to cover travel expenses.
g. Documentation highlighting strong ties to Bangladesh (property ownership, employment, family, etc.).
h. Any additional documents specific to the visa category you are applying for.
The visa interview is a crucial part of the application process. Here are some tips to help you prepare:
a. Arrive at the embassy or consulate well ahead of time.
b. Dress appropriately and maintain a professional demeanor.
c. Answer questions confidently, honestly, and concisely.
d. Bring all relevant supporting documents and be prepared to present them if requested.
e. Be prepared to explain your purpose of travel and demonstrate your intent to return to Bangladesh.
If your visa application is approved, the consular officer will provide you with further instructions for passport collection. Once you receive your passport with the visa, make sure to review it for accuracy. It’s essential to check the visa’s validity dates and any specific restrictions. Plan your travel accordingly, ensuring you have necessary flight bookings, accommodation, and travel insurance.
Applying for a USA visa from Bangladesh may seem like a daunting task, but with proper preparation and understanding of the process, it can be a smooth and rewarding experience. Remember to start your application well in advance, gather all the required documents, and be confident during the visa interview. Always stay updated with the latest.
The U.S. Department of State has increased certain nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application processing fees. These fee increases are effective May 30, 2023.
The application fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s), and other non-petition based NIVs, such as student and exchange visitor visas, has increased from $160 to $185.
The application fee for certain petition-based nonimmigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) has increased from $190 to $205.
The application fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicant in a specialty occupation (E category) has increased from $205 to $315.
For more information, please visit: https://ustraveldocs.com/bd/
COVID-19 Requirements for Travel to the United States
Effective May, 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrants traveling to the United States will no longer need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. For more information, please visit the CDC website.
Nonimmigrant visas are for international travelers coming to the United States temporarily. The visa, placed in your passport when issued, allows you to travel to a port of entry and request the permission of the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection immigration officer to enter the United States. A visa does not guarantee entry. International travelers come to the United States for a wide variety of reasons, including tourism, business, medical treatment, and certain types of temporary work. For an overview of the types of nonimmigrant visas available, please see directory of nonimmigrant visa categories.
Advance planning can smooth the visa application process for you. Apply for your visa well in advance of your travel!
All nonimmigrant visa application fee (also known as the MRV fee) payments made on or after October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for payment of the MRV fee. Applicants must schedule an interview appointment or submit an interview waiver application during this 365-day period. Please note applicants must only schedule their interview or submit their waiver application within the 365-day period. There is no requirement the interview must occur during the 365-day period. All receipts for payment of MRV fees issued before October 1, 2022, were extended until September 30, 2023, and remain valid until this date.
Make your appointment through www.ustraveldocs.com/bd website or by contacting our call center. Create a user account to make an appointment for visa interview at the Embassy.
A passport valid for six months beyond the period of your intended stay in the United States. Children must have an individually issued visa, even if placed in a parent’s passport. Applicants for visitor visas must show that they qualify under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Applicants must demonstrate that they are properly classifiable as visitors under U.S. law.
The presumption in the law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Therefore, applicants for visitor visas must overcome this presumption by demonstrating:
That the purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for business, pleasure, ormedical treatment;That they plan to remain for a specific, limited period;Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States; Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad; and That they have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties that will ensure their return abroad at the end of the visit.
Due to security concerns and space limitations, U.S. Embassy-Dhaka does not permit interested parties such as friends, relatives, attorneys or business contacts to attend the visa interview with the applicant. Applicants must come prepared to interview without in-person assistance.
ON YOUR INTERVIEW DAY AT THE EMBASSY
Intake:
On your interview day, please come to the Consular Section according to the entry date and time mentioned on your appointment letter.
Check in with the greeters as you enter the Consular waiting room and follow their directions to the window where you will have your application and fingerprints intake.
Please be ready to hand over your current passport, original DS-160 confirmation page, appointment letter, and CGI cash deposit slip to the fingerprint intake window.
If you have more than one passport, please separate them before coming in for your scheduled interview. You will still need to bring all your previous passports to the interview since you may need to present them to the interviewing Consular Officer.But never staple them together.
For fingerprinting, please be sure to keep your hands dry and clean.After your fingerprints are scanned, sit down, and wait until it is your turn to interview.
If you are unable to come for a visa interview on the scheduled date, you will need to reschedule your appointment. You can reschedule your appointment within 12 months from the date of fee payment. If you do not come to interview within 12 months, the visa fee payment record will expire. Click here to learn more about rescheduling an appointment.
Prepare your passport and DS-160 confirmation page to hand directly to the Consular Officer. If you are applying with multiple people, hand all passport packets together.
To save time, only give documents to the Officer if asked. If the Officer asks for a specific document, please give him/her that specific document and only that document.
Do not submit documents that you know to be fraudulent. Applicants are responsible for knowing whether the documents they submit are genuine and authentic. If an agent tells you to present documents, you are responsible for knowing if they are authentic and genuine. If they are not, you will be held responsible and not any third party. If the Consular Officer suspects your documents to be fake, you will be refused a visa and possibly receive a permanent ban from travel to the U.S.
Be as detailed as possible when answering interview questions.
If you do not agree with the Consular Officer’s decision, please do not argue with them. You are always welcome to apply again, but you should seriously assess if the circumstances that lead to your refusal have improved.
English competency is not a requirement for getting a visa. All of the Consular Officers speak and understand Bangla and would be happy to take your interview in either language.
After The Interview:
If you are issued a visa, , the Consular Officer will instruct you on how and when to collect the visaed passport. Normally the passport and visa can be collected from the pickup location you selected when you scheduled for interview appointment. When your passport is available at the selected location you will receive an email that your passport is “Ready for Pick Up”. If you have applied as a family, only one family member needs to collect passports Visa Collection Center.
Some qualified applicants require additional administrative processing. It is impossible to predict how much time will be required for additional processing. Click here to check the status of your case.
If you are refused for a visa, the Consular Officer will return your passport immediately. You may reapply at any time by scheduling a new appointment. However, we recommend that you wait until your circumstances have changed.
IMPORTANT:
If you are unable to appear in person to collect your passport from Visa Collection Center, an authorized person may do so on your behalf. You must provide a signed authorization form (PDF 60.2 KB) .
Follow the passport drop-off/pick-up instructions (for both visaed and non-visaed) available here .
Supporting Documents
Each person applying for a U.S. visa come to their interview with their
Passport, valid for at least 6 months beyond their intended stay in the U.S.
CGI Cash deposit slip (MRV Fee payment receipt)
DS-160 application confirmation page
Appointment confirmation letter
Please note that children must have their own passports.
Applicants for nonimmigrant visas must prove that they qualify for a visa under the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Under this law, every applicant is presumed to be an intending immigrant. Therefore, the majority of applicants for nonimmigrant visas must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that:
Each applicant is unique, so it is not possible to provide a list of required documents. Applicants should present whatever evidence will prove to the officer that they intend to return to Bangladesh or other residence outside of the United States. Applicants are encouraged to come prepared to discuss their family, social, and economic ties to Bangladesh. Supporting documents are not strictly necessary.
Examples of useful supporting documents include, but are not limited to:
Remember!
Each applicant is different. You should present evidence relevant to YOUR case. Applicants may present evidence that will show their own ties to Bangladesh, but should be aware that in many cases, supporting documents will not be reviewed. Supporting documents may help an officer evaluate the applicant’s ties to Bangladesh, but supporting documents do not guarantee that a visa will be issued. In most cases, the information contained in the DS-160 application and answers to questions in your interview will be sufficient to determine your eligibility.
To know more , visit : https://bd.usembassy.gov/
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