Street Address: American Embassy, Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, G.P.O. Box 323, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
Mailing Address: Consular Section, United States Embassy, Dhaka – Bangladesh, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6120
Fax: 880-2-883744
Telephone: 880-2-884700
Nonimmigrant Visas: Applications are accepted on a line up basis betwen 8:00 am and 10:30 am Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Applications by mail are not permitted, though interviews may be waived for persons who have received US visas in the past as well as for government officials and certain other applicants. Those whose applications are accepted can expect to be interviewed and issued a visa approval or denial the same day. Note that less than 40% of applications are approved. Most applicants are seeking tourist visas or student visas and consular officials are generally concerned about non-immigrant intent, especially for those who have never before been to the US and for younger applicants. Note that there is no limit on the number of times an applicant can apply nor is there a limit on the amount of time that must pass before an applicant can reapply.
Immigrant Visas: Immigrant visas are processed relatively quickly in Bangladesh. Interviews are typically scheduled within two months after a priority date becomes current and within three weeks after an immediate relative’s Packet 3 is received by the consulate. Visas are usually available within a week of satisfying all of the requirements. The post generally prefers not to initiate processing instead of the National Visa Center. The visa refusal rate is higher than average generally because of a high rate of fraud, particularly fraud regarding the existence and termination of earlier marriages by the Bangladeshi applicant as well as false statements of age. Applications are also frequently denied for failure to meet public charge requirements.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk. The information provided in this article has not been updated since its original posting and you should not rely on it until you consult counsel to determine if the content is still valid. We keep older articles online because it helps in the understanding of the development of immigration law.