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NonImmigrant Visas

General Information

Visa application procedures through off-site service provider

Applicants may schedule their appointments through our service provider Saimon Overseas Ltd.  This service allows applicants to purchase a fee receipt, fill out and submit required visa application forms, and schedule an interview in one easy stop. Applicants who use this service will not be required to come to the Embassy until the day of their interview. Saimon Overseas Ltd.  assesses a per passport service fee of 550 taka.  Successful visa applicants pick up their issued visa from the Consular section at 1 pm.

Address for off-site service provider:

Saimon Overseas Ltd.
Saimon Center
House #4A, Road #22
Gulshan – 1, Dhaka 1212
Tel: 880-2-9893964


Saimon Overseas Ltd. (off-site service provider) Appointment Prerequisites

  • Passport valid for six months beyond the period of your intended stay in the United States.
  • Complete set of signed and original application forms (DS-156, DS-157, DS-158 and non-immigrant visa questionnaire).
  • Two photographs for each application.
  • Payment of $131 non-immigrant visa application processing fee in taka equivalent and per fee  processing charge of taka 100 + applicable VAT. The $131 fee is not refundable and can only be made in taka equivalent. (no credit card or bank checks will be accepted).
  • A per passport service fee of 550 taka.

Visa application forms are free to everyone.  Applicants should never pay money for a non-immigrant visa application form.  Applications are available at the Saimon Overseas office in Gulshan, Dhaka.

Applicants should not submit any supporting documents to Saimon Overseas office.  Instead, applicants must bring all supporting documents relevant to their visa application to the Consular Section and present to the interviewing Consular Officer at the time of the interview.

Visa application procedures through the Consular Section

Those applicants who do not wish to take advantage of the service offered by Saimon Overseas Ltd. may schedule interviews for non-immigrant visas in person at the Consular Section on Thursdays between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. The number of appointments available for applicants who appear at the Consular Section is extremely limited.  For faster service, applicants are strongly encouraged to go to the Saimon Overseas Ltd. office.  Applicants choosing to schedule through the Consular Section will need to complete an Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF 156).  Please see requirements below if you wish to schedule an appointment from the Consular Section directly.

  • EVAF 156 (required from all applicants). For EVAF-156s please click here...
  • Passport valid for six months beyond the period of your intended stay in the United States.
  • Complete set of signed application forms (DS-156, DS-157, DS-158 and non-immigrant visa questionnaire).
  • Two photographs for each application.
  • $131 nonimmigrant visa application fee receipt. The $131 visa fee is not refundable (no credit card or bank checks will be accepted).

Important things to remember when filling out U.S. visa application forms:

  • Respond to all the questions. If you have no response for a question, put "none" or "nil" - Do not draw a line or write "NA" or "not applicable" when the question is important for you to answer.
  • You must provide specific contact and address information both in Bangladesh and the United States. Applications with responses such as "any hotel" as the address in the U.S. will be suspended for additional information.
  • You must sign your application, even if someone else fills it out.
  • All applicants are personally responsible and accountable for the answers on their application forms, regardless of who fills out the forms.
  • All contact information including phone numbers must be correct.
  • All four forms (DS-156, DS-157, DS-158 including the questionnaire) must be filled out completely, even if the information is repeated from other forms.
  • If your name on your passport uses initials, you must list your FULL NAME in the "other names used" box.
  • Please be truthful in the information and documents you provide.
  • Please be honest and specific to your answer.

Important note:  Incomplete U.S. visa applications may result in delays in visa issuance, possibly up to several months.

Plan ahead to schedule an appointment:

All nonimmigrant visa applicants are encouraged to schedule their visa interviews at least 90 days in advance of their anticipated date of travel. 

Expedited Appointment Procedures:

U.S. Embassy Dhaka does not have a waiting list for appointments.  Interviews are scheduled two workdays from the date of application request.  Expedited appointments will not be granted unless a backlog develops.
The Non-Immigrant Visa Unit of the Embassy of the United States of America in Dhaka may schedule appointments for urgent visa applications.  An Emergency visa application is the result of an unplanned and immediate urgent need to travel, such as a medical emergency, hospitalization, funeral, start of academic studies, etc.
If you believe that you have an emergency case, you may call the Consular Section (Non-immigrant visa unit) at 885-5500 between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. on normal embassy working days.  You may FAX a written request for an emergency appointment to: 882-4449. 
Expedited appointments will only be scheduled on normal embassy business days and during normal working hours.  Expedited appointments are not available after normal working hours or on the days when the Embassy is closed.

Important note:  All applicants must be qualified before a visa can be issued. The granting of an emergency appointment does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.

The following situations are considered emergencies: 

SL

Purpose of travel

Documents required

1

Immediate relative burial (parents, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother or sister).

A letter from the funeral home.

2

To assist an immediate relative who is seriously ill or dying

A letter from the doctor in charge or from the hospital detailing the nature of the emergency.

3

To receive urgent medical attention or to help an immediate family member receiving medical attention.

A letter from the doctor in charge or from the hospital detailing the nature of the emergency.  Documentation of ability to pay for services rendered in U.S.

4

To go to the school in the U.S. if classes begin sooner than the next available student visa appointment.

The  I-20 form or acceptance letter showing that the student needs to be in the U.S. earlier than a regularly appointment permits.

Non-immigrant visa fees:

Standard Chartered Bank, Bangladesh is the offsite non-immigrant visa application fee collection agent. The fee for all types of U.S. non-immigrant visa is $131. Applicants may deposit the non-immigrant visa application fee directly to Standard Chartered Bank and obtain a receipt. For the fee processing service, the Standard Chartered Bank assesses a processing fee of 100 taka plus the VAT of Tk. 15.00.

Applicants who want to schedule an appointment through Saimon Overseas may deposit the $131 non-refundable visa fee, fill-out and submit application forms, along with the photo copy of passports, two photographs, and schedule an appointment in one step. For this service Saimon Overseas will assesses a per application service fee of taka 550.

Address of Standard Chartered Bank:
Plot # 189, Block # NWA,
Gulshan Avenue (opposite Pakistan Embassy)
Gulshan - 2, Dhaka.
Phone: 882 1904, 9881651

Supporting Documents:

Each person applying for a US visa must have a passport with at least 6 months validity beyond the intended date of entrance into the US.  Children are not permitted to travel on a parent’s passport.

Applicants for non-immigrant 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 non-immigrant visas must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that:

  • They have a valid, temporary purpose of travel.
  • They plan to remain for a specific, limited period.
  • They have a residence outside the United States (in most cases, in Bangladesh) as well as other family, social and economic ties that will ensure their return at the end of their visit. Even applicants who wish to visit the United States for business or official travel will need to demonstrate their personal ties to Bangladesh.

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 interviewing consular officer that they intend to return to Bangladesh or other residence outside of the United States.  Applicants are encouraged to show documentary evidence of their family, social, and economic ties to Bangladesh.

Examples of useful supporting documents include, but are not limited to:  

  • All previous passports.
  • Passports or other identifying information for spouse and/or children in Bangladesh (even if they are not traveling).
  • Three to twelve months of personal bank statements.
  • Salary statements or job letters.
  • Property, tax or business records.
  • School documents for children or students.
  • Information from contacts in the United States if traveling for business.
  • Seaman’s books if applying for crew visa.
  • Wedding photos if applying for derivative visa or applying with spouse.
  • Evidence of membership in organizations.
  • Copies of passports and/or immigration documents of relatives in the United States.  

Important note: Each applicant is different. You should present evidence relevant to YOUR case. Applicants should present evidence that will show their own ties to Bangladesh. Supporting documents help an officer evaluate the applicant’s ties to Bangladesh, but supporting documents do not guarantee that a visa will be issued.

Visa denials:

In most cases, visa applicants must prove that they qualify for a visa under section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which states that:

“Every alien shall be presumed to be an immigrant until he establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer, at the time of application for admission, that he is entitled to a nonimmigrant status...”

While in most cases the only required documents are the applicant’s passport, application form, photo, and fee receipt, the applicant should bring supporting documentation to prove that he or she has sufficient family, social or economic ties to a residence outside of the United States which he or she is unwilling to abandon. The law also states "Whenever any person makes an application for a visa...the burden of proof shall be upon such person to establish that he is eligible."

U.S. immigration law requires consular officers to deny an applicant's application if the applicant fails to present convincing evidence that he/she is not an intending immigrant.

Nonimmigrant visa types and requirements:

Note that there are additional requirements for student visas, work visas, and some other visa classifications.  Please refer to the appropriate visa category below:

Business Travelers and Tourists (B-1 and B-2) 
Seamen & Airline Crew Members (C-1/D)
Treaty Investors (E-2)
Students (F-1)
Temporary Workers (H1-B)
Exchange Visitors (J-1)
Intra-Company Transferee (L-1)
Dependents (F-2, J-2, L-2, H-4)
Individuals Requiring Medical Treatment 

Visa Appointment Wait Time

Please note: wait times do not include security or administrative processing times, which vary case by case.


Do not wait until the last minute!  As some cases require additional processing, you are encouraged to appear for an interview at least two to three months before your planned travel dates. The information on wait time below is updated on a weekly basis.

  • For the typical length of time to obtain an interview appointment for a visitor (B1/B2) visa, please click here...
  • For the typical length of time to obtain an interview appointment for a student (F, M) or exchange visitor (J) visa, please click here...

  • For the typical length of time to obtain an interview appointment for all other categories of nonimmigrant visas, please click here...

This appointment wait time does not include time required for special clearances and administrative processing. 

Hours of operation:

Non-immigrant Visa Unit Hours of Operation

Telephone Inquiries

Sunday - Thursday 

9:00 - 10:00 am

221(g) Refusal Intake

Thursday 

2:00 - 3:00 pm 

Appointment Scheduling in Consular

Thursday 

2:00 - 3:00 pm

Reschedule Visa Appointment

Monday

2:00 - 3:00 pm

Passport Delivery

Sunday - Thursday

1:00 pm

Passport collection

Sunday - Thursday

10:00 am

Embassy location and contact information

The entrance to the Embassy of the United States is located at 12 Madani Avenue in Baridhara, Dhaka.  Applicants should come to the north side of the Embassy and enter the Consular Section through Gate 2.

The non-immigrant visa unit is open for telephone inquiries from Sunday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on normal Embassy workdays.  You can also reach us through e-mail at DhakaNIV@state.gov or by filling out the NIV Inquiry Form located at Gate 2 of the Embassy.


Please do not send documents such as letters of invitation, affidavits of support, etc.  via fax or mail directly to the consular section.  We do not answer by fax so please include your telephone number or e-mail address when you contact the Embassy.

You can get further information on visa procedures and requirements from our web site at www.dhaka.usembassy.gov .

Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Permanent Program Act of 2000 directed the collection of records of arrival and departure for every alien who travels by sea or air and who is provided a waiver under the VWP.  The Act required that these air and sea VWP records be incorporated into an automated entry exit system.  As of October 1, 2002, passenger arrival and departure information on individuals entering and leaving the U.S. under the VWP has been electronically collected from airlines and cruise lines, through the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), and no visa waiver may be granted to an alien if the carrier does not submit such data electronically.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a U.S. visa.
Please click the following link to know more about the visa waiver program (VWP).
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has initiated its Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a new online system that is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The ESTA web-based system became mandatory on Jan. 12, 2009. Accordingly, all nationals or citizens of VWP countries who do not have valid US visas planning to travel to the United States for 90 days or less for temporary business or pleasure under the VWP will need to receive an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or cruise ship.

Important links:

1. Apply online for ESTA authorization (click here)
2. FAQ from Dhaka Consular Section (click here)
3. Statement by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (click here)

The Advanced Passenger Information System

Advanced Passenger Information System sends this data to the Arrival and Departure Information System (ADIS) for matching arrivals and departures and reporting purposes.

The ADIS sends all arrival information on students to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) which enables the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to notify the schools that a new foreign student has arrived and should be arriving at their school within 30 days.

Currently, DHS inspectors collect the following information contained on a travel document: name, date of birth, nationality, gender, passport number, document number, document type (passport, visa), country of issuance.  In addition, APIS collects carrier information such as flight number, airport of departure and other data.

For more info on APIS, please visit http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/inspections_carriers_facilities/apis/.

Important note for non-immigrant applicants

We are serious about visa fraud.  Please be truthful in the information and documents you provide. If you submit counterfeit or altered documents to the Consular Officer, you may become permanently ineligible for a visa to the United States. In addition, you could be subject to prosecution under Bangladeshi law.  Be wary of persons outside the Consular Section offering you documents or assistance or claiming a connection to the Consular Section who want to facilitate your visa application. If you are approached by such persons, please report it to the Consular Section. Only an American Consular Officer may decide who is granted a visa under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.

Departure and Arrival Record (I-94)

If you departed the United States with your Customs and Border Protection (CBP) departure record Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) in your passport, it means that your departure was not recorded properly. It is your responsibility to correct this record. In order to do so, you must provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sufficient information so they can record your timely departure from the United States.

If you do not validate a timely departure from the United States, or if you cannot reasonably prove otherwise when you next apply for admission to the United States, the DHS may conclude you remained in the United States beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, the next time you apply to enter the United States, your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your foreign point of origin.

To validate departure, the DHS/CBP will consider a variety of information, including, but not limited to:

  • Original departure record Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green)
  • Original boarding passes you used to depart the United States
  • Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport indicating entry to another country after you departed the United States (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely blank, and include the biographical page containing your photograph.), and
  • Photocopies of other supporting evidence, such as:
    • Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you worked in another country after you departed the United States
    • Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States
    • School records showing attendance at a school outside the United States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States
  • Dated credit card receipts, showing your name, but, the credit card number deleted, for purchases made after you left the United States to indicate you were in another country after leaving the United States. Your statement will not be acceptable without supporting evidence such as noted above.

    You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If you send original materials, you should retain a copy. The CBP cannot return original materials after processing. To help us understand the situation and correct your records quickly, please include an explanation letter in English. You must send your letter and enclosed information with return receipt only to the following address:

    ACS – CBP SBU
    P.O. Box 7125
    London , KY 40742-7125
    USA

    Do not mail your departure Form I-94 or supporting information to any United States Consulate or Embassy, to any other DHS office in the United States, or to any address other than the one above.

SEVIS fee increase

STUDENT AND EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM (SEVP) FEE INCREASES

Effective October 27, 2008, fees for nonimmigrant students visas will increase from $100 to $200, and fees for exchange visitor travelers will increase from $100 to $180.

Students and exchange visitors visa applicants who paid their SEVIS fee before October 27, 2008 do not need to pay the higher amount, even if they have not traveled or applied for a visa by that date.

This increase allows the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS to recover the costs of additional enhancements to the SEVIS system and school verification process for all non-immigration student and exchange visitors visa application. As student applications increase every year world-wide, the Department of State strives to keep the process as easy and transparent as possible for all applicants. This fee must be paid to DHS in the United States.

The SEVIS fee must be paid prior to the visa application and no interview can be done without proof of fee payment.

The SEVIS fee will apply to students and exchange visitors who hold I-20s and DS-2019 issued after September 1, 2004. It will apply only to principal applicants, and not to their spouses or children. This is a non-refundable fee and is not contingent on visa issuance.

The SEVIS fee is good for the duration of their program of study unless the student falls out of status or changes status. A student will not be required to pay a new fee upon transfer to a new school, extension of stay, or change in educational level.

SEVIS payments may be made by mail or over the internet. The website, www.fmjfee.com, will accept all major credit cards. Non-immigrant student can also pay the I-901 SEVIS fee locally via the use of the Western Union quick pay service. The fee must be recorded at least 3 days prior to the applicant’s visa interview.

Additional information on the SEVIS program can be found on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program website, www.ice.gov.

Date: October 23, 2008

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