Press Release

Regarding the Resumption of New F Category Student Visa by US Embassy Dhaka

In the reports of US Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs, 2510 students from Bangladesh have traveled
under the F category student visa in 2019, to pursue undergraduate and graduate (MS, PhD & Post-doc) degrees
from US universities. But, US Embassy Dhaka closed New F Category visa processing on 19th March 2020, due to
the COVID-19 pandemic; and has not resumed yet. So, it can be estimated that more than 3000 students have missed
their opportunities to travel to USA and join their prospective universities, in Fall 2020 (August Session). As a
result, some of the students have already lost their admission into their universities, others were able to postpone
their admission to the next semester Spring 2021 (January Session), and very few are doing online classes at their
own expense. Thus, if the US Embassy Dhaka does not resume the New F Category visa services immediately, we
are at risk of losing our admission and funding for the Spring 2021 (January Session).

Since, all the US universities are open and running, the researches in our prospective universities are being
hampered and our professors are left shorthanded in our absence. Thus, the universities cannot wait for us any
longer if we miss the Spring 2021 (January Session). We will lose our scholarships, tuition-waivers and our
positions will be replaced. This will tarnish the image of Bangladeshi academics among the US universities and they
will be further reluctant to recruit any Bangladeshi students in the future. In addition, the New F Category student
visa processing has already begun in our neighboring countries - India (on 17 August), Pakistan (on 28 September)
and Sri Lanka (on 8 October). Students of these countries have already ensured to travel to the US and they will
likely replace our positions as well. It is to be mentioned that, the Travel Advisory Level (pandemic safety condition
for travel) by the US Embassy in these respective countries are not better than Bangladesh (India – Level 4, Pakistan
– Level 3 and Bangladesh – Level 3. Level 1 means “Exercise Normal Precaution, Level 2 indicates “Exercise
Increased Caution, Level 3 is “Reconsider Travel”, and lastly Level 4 advises “Do not travel”).

Regarding our issue, we have directly contacted, EducationUSA, EducationUSA Bangladesh, U.S. Ambassador to
Bangladesh - Earl R. Miller, Consular General U.S. Embassy Bangladesh - William R. Dowers, Director of
Americas Wing (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bangladesh) - Ms. Seheli Sabrin, Foreign Secretary (Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Bangladesh) - Mr. Masud Bin Momen, State Minister of Bangladesh - Mr. Md. Shahriar Alam,
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh - Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, and Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh -
Sheikh Hasina. We also had an in-person meeting with the Honorable Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dr. A. K.
Abdul Momen, on 12 October. But, we have not received any definite answer when the US Embassy Dhaka will
resume New F Category visa services, yet.

We had full faith in the system since the beginning and have been patiently waiting for the resumption of the New F
Category visa processing by the US Embassy Dhaka. Since, the preparations and the application processes for the
admission into US universities are quite expensive for Bangladeshi students, extensively time consuming and very
competitive. As we truly aimed for higher studies in the US, neither we have any alternative career plan, or the
mental and financial capability to go through the whole application process again. Thus, our backs are at the wall
now; since, we have very few days left before our classes begin in the January (Spring 2021), in our respective US
universities. We are on the verge of losing our hard-earned opportunities to study in these reputed US universities,
and our career-path, hopes and dreams.

Regards,
Bangladeshi Prospective Students of Spring 2021 for US Universities