USA Student Visa Requirements From Bangladesh
Over 10,500 students went to the USA from Bangladesh in the last academic year alone. It shows that thousands of students go to the United States each year for their higher studies. The first thing you have to do after getting an offer letter from a university is to apply for a US visa in Bangladesh.
Before that, you must know everything about USA student visa requirements from Bangladesh. In this article, I’ll talk about student visas in the USA, how to apply for them, and the requirements. So, let’s get right in.
What Are Different Types Of US Student Visas?
Students go to the USA for higher studies in undergrad, postgrad, and Ph.D. programs. Students often ask- how can I go to USA from Bangladesh for study?
Bangladeshi students can apply for three different types of student visas depending on their study plan. Here are the three US visa categories for Bangladeshi students:
F1 Student Visa
It’s the most popular and the most sought-after student visa from Bangladesh. This visa category allows you to study undergrad, postgrad, doctorate, post-doc, etc., programs in different universities and colleges in the USA. You must also apply for this visa if you plan to learn English in a language training program.
M1 Student Visa
The M1 student visa is for those Bangladeshi students who want to study vocational or non-academic courses or programs. However, this visa category does not support English language training, so you can’t get training in the English language with an M1 visa.
J1 Exchange Visa
A J1 exchange visa applies for student exchange programs from high school to university. This visa allows student exchanges between two countries or educational institutes of the two countries.
How To Apply For USA Student Visa From Bangladesh?
Bangladeshi students can apply for any of the three visa categories. But before applying for a visa, you need to know the USA student visa requirements for Bangladesh. First, get admission to a US university, and then you can apply for a visa after receiving the offer letter from that university.
You must submit your online visa application for Bangladesh through the US Embassy website. Then print out the application form and the confirmation page. After reviewing all your documents, the embassy will call you for an interview.
Required Documents
You need to submit many documents with your visa application form to the US embassy. The US authority will carefully inspect and investigate your submitted documents. So, make sure all of them are valid.
You have to submit the following documents:
- Copy of your valid passport. Make sure your passport has validity as per the embassy guideline.
- Offer Letter from your US University.
- Payment receipt of the visa application fee in case you have to pay the application fee before your interview.
- Passport-size photos with white backgrounds.
- All your academic transcripts and certificates
- Your Curriculum Vitae
- Recommendation letter, if needed
- Statement of purpose or SOP as per the university guideline.
- Your personal information, parents’ information, address, etc.
- Language proficiency test score
- Bank statement showing a certain amount of money if needed.
Eligibility of Students
A student must be eligible to study in the USA from Bangladesh. Different universities have different entry requirements. But let’s check out the standard eligibility of students of different programs:
Undergrad Program
To study undergrad in the USA, a Bangladeshi student must pass the Higher Secondary School Certificate and complete 1 year in any Bangladeshi university. The HSC result of the student should be at least GPA 4 out of GPA 5. A study gap of 1.5 years is acceptable.
Postgrad Program
A student must complete a bachelor’s or UG degree with a minimum of 3.0 CGPA. Business students will require the GMAT, and other students will require GRE. In both programs, students must have a minimum English language proficiency score.
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English Language Proficiency Requirements
English language proficiency score is a must to apply for a USA student visa. You will have to take a language proficiency test to get the score and become eligible to apply for the visa.
The USA accepts two types of English proficiency tests:
- TOEFL: a minimum score of 60 is required for a USA student visa.
- International English Language Test System or IELTS: a minimum of 6.5 bands is required by US universities.
Student Visa Application Fees
As a Bangladeshi student, you will have to pay a student visa application fee unless you get a scholarship and the fee is covered by it. The US visa application Bangladesh fee for students is now $160.
Besides, you will have to pay a $350 SEVIS fee for F and M category student visas. For the J category, the SEVIS fee is $220.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the bank balance needed for a US student visa from Bangladesh?
Sometimes, you must show your bank statement to get a USA student visa. In most cases, you have to keep the equivalent 1-year tuition fee and 1-year living expenses in your bank account. In total, it’s about BDT 25 lacs to 30 lacs.
How many months of bank statement is needed for a US student visa?
You must show your bank or solvency statement to the US embassy for the student visa. Generally, the visa officer asks for 3 to 9 months of bank statements for a student visa.
How can I go to the USA from Bangladesh with a student visa?
To study in the USA from Bangladesh, you have to secure admission to a US university first. After that, you can apply for a student visa at the US Embassy.
Is IELTS required for F1 visa?
IELTS is a language proficiency test that shows your English communication skill, which is required for the F1 student visa. You can take other proficiency tests, for example, TOEFL.
Is an interview compulsory for a USA student visa?
Yes, an in-person interview is compulsory to get a USA student visa, especially the F1 student visa. This interview is a clinical test to determine whether you are a genuine student.
Final Thoughts
After knowing the USA student visa requirements from Bangladesh, you can now plan accordingly. Ensure you fill out the application form carefully and never enter wrong information or submit any forged document.
