Press Conference of

Prospective Graduate Students

of USA
Saturday, October 17, 2020

1
 Who We Are
Bangladeshi Students in USA,
Year by Year Statistics
No. of F Category
Year
Visas Issued
2019 2510
2018 2543
2017 1888
2016 2168
2015 2659
2014 2611
2013 2678
2012 1615
2011 1136

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/AnnualReports/FY2019AnnualReport/FY19AnnualReport-TableXVII.pdf 2
 Who We Are
Students waiting for visa (F) now
➢ Spring 2020 (January 2020)
➢Fall 2020 (August 2020)
➢20% already missed
admission/scholarship/assistantship
➢70-75% deferred to Spring 2021
➢5-10% enrolling online classes
➢Spring 2021 (January 2021)
2500-3000*
Students
(Approx.)
*Includes both graduate
(MS/PhD/Postdoc) and
undergraduate (Bachelor)
*There are university teachers,
graduate researchers, scholars, govt.
and non-gov. service holders and
students
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Average Investments by A Bangladeshi Student
Cost (BDT)
GRE/GMAT 17000
IELTS/TOEFL 17000
3 - 5 years University Application
About $100 X 10
86000

Or University
(Including Document
Sending)
More SEVIS Fee 30000
VISA Fee 13700
Others 10000
Total 173700

4
 Visa Resumption in Neighboring Countries
• India resumed
on August 17

• Pakistan resumed
on September 28

• Sri-Lanka resumed on
October 8 / August 21
5
Travel Advisory Levels by the US Dept. of State
Bangladesh – Level 3

6
Travel Advisory Levels by the US Dept. of State
In Other Countries:
• India – Level 4
• Pakistan – Level 3
• Sri-Lanka – Level 3
• Germany – Level 3
• Italy – Level 3
• France – Level 3
• Vietnam – Level 2
7
 US Embassy India Issuing Student Visa
August, 2020 – 2285 Students September, 2020 – 1933 Students

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/nonimmigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-nonimmigrant-visa-issuances.html
8
US Embassy India Issuing Student Visa

9
If We Do Not Get Visa for Spring 2021
• Universities/Professors will be reluctant to recruit
new Bangladeshi students for researches/projects
in the future
• Our positions will replaced with students from our
neighboring countries
• Tarnish the image of Bangladesh Academics
• Future students will be discouraged to aim for
higher-studies and academic researches

10
 Information-gap and misconceptions
• All Students Attending Online Class
➢Only 5-10%
➢Paying tuition fees
➢If failed to attend in Spring 2021
• Will lose admission/scholarship/funding
• Wasted resources - Tuition fees of 1st semester, mental effort
and their valuable time

• US embassy Dhaka giving visa to F Category Students

➢Only Renewals!
➢Interview Waiver Applications for Tourism, Business, and
Medical Visas
11
 Information-gap and misconceptions
• Most of the US universities are still closed
and classes are being demonstrated virtually
➢Scenario is just opposite
➢Hybrid process (both in person and virtual), but mostly in person
➢University/Laboratory presence is a must requirement to receive
funds as Graduate Assistantship

• As most of the US university is still closed, so students

will face problems of accommodation and food
➢Visa acceptance requires adequate financial evidence
➢Adequate Payments, Fellowship and Scholarship money

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 Steps Taken by the Prospective Students
1. Emails and written-copies mentioning our issue and visa
reopening of New F category visa have been sent to:

✓His Excellency U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, Earl R. Miller

✓Honorable Consular General U.S. Embassy Bangladesh, William R. Dowers
✓Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina
✓His Excellency Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen
✓His Excellency State Minister of Bangladesh, Mr. Md. Shahriar Alam
✓Director of Americas Wing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bangladesh, Ms. Seheli Sabrin

13
 Steps Taken by the Prospective Students
2. Only Emails:
✓EducationUSA
✓EducationUSA Bangladesh
✓Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bangladesh, Mr. Masud Bin Momen

3. In Person Meetings:
a. His Excellency Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen
b. Director of Americas Wing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bangladesh, Ms. Seheli Sabrin

4. Press Release and Press Conference

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15
Letter to:
Honorable Prime Minister,
Sheikh Hasina

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Our meeting with Honorable Foreign Minister
• 12 October 2020:
On this day we had a meeting with Honorable Foreign Minister and Ms. Seheli Sabrin, Director of Americas Wing, Foreign Ministry of
Bangladesh. We handed our applications regarding our issues directly to Honorable Foreign Minister and Director of Americas Wing.

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 The impact and consequences
❖ Repetition of the expensive and extensive application process
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Prepare for GRE/GMAT

Prepare for TOEFL/IELTS
Choose University
Contact Professors and Researchers
Prepare Statement of Purpose
Prepare Letter of Recommendation
Send Application Package
Follow Up Application & Wait for Decision
Prepare of Visa
Buy Air Ticket

https://vimeo.com/66480141?fbclid=IwAR0ejjlGI9T_9z3oIPK0R2VrSkqg-V5M4wpRiV8EkFMXSbCaR5INa3jKLKM
18
 The impact and consequences
❖ Hampered researches and shorthanded laboratories
❖ Development of skeptical and dismissive impression
toward Bangladeshi students
❖ Demoralized students at a major cross-road of life and
Bleak future
❖ Shattering of hopes, dreams and career-plans
❖ Possibilities for the country and Talent Drain
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 Final Notes
❖We are not pointing fingers
❖Uncertain and unstable time
❖We are well-aware and well-prepared

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 THANK YOU
for your valuable time
Q&A Session