Overview
Every year The United States welcomes thousands of Bangladeshi students to study at its top-rated universities and various educational institutes. A university or program must accept any Bangladeshi student before they apply for a student visa. Every student must go through several steps and arrange few documents for the admission and visa process.
This article will provide a US student visa guide for any Bangladeshi student planning to study undergraduate, postgraduate, or other degrees in the United States.
Types of US student visas
Bangladeshi students can apply for three different US student visas based on the study they plan to attend in the US.
- F1 Student Visa: This is the most common student visa in the US. If you are planning to study at a US college or university or study English at a language training program, you should apply for an F1 Student Visa.
- M1 Student Visa: If you are planning to study non-academic or vocational study other than a language training program, an M1 Student Visa is for you.
- J1 Exchange Visa: If you are participating in a student exchange program, including high school and university study, you should apply for a J1 Exchange Visa.
Student Acceptance at a SEVP Approved School
As mentioned earlier in the article, you should first apply and be accepted by a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified university or academic institute in the US. After the acceptance, you will receive a Form I-20 from the institution’s international student office, a paper record of your information in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database.
For an exchange visitor visa, you’ll have to file your application under a J-1 visa, and as a pre-requisite, you have to submit a DS-2019 form that will be given by your sponsoring US institution.
After receiving the Form I-20 and registering in SEVIS, you may apply at a US Embassy or Consulate for a student (F or M) visa.
Documents required for a US student visa
Here is a list of documents you need to gather and prepare before your student visa interview:
- Passport – a valid passport which is valid for at least six month beyond your period of stay in the US.
- Payment receipt – if you are required to pay the application fee before your interview.
- Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160
- Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page
- SEVP acceptance and Form I-20 certificates
Additional documentations
Here is a list of additional documentation you might need to prepare for the visa interview process:
A consular officer will interview you to determine your qualifications for a student visa and may request additional documents, such as evidence of:
- Your academic preparation, such as:
- Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended; and
- Standardized test scores required by your U.S. school;
- Your intent to depart the United States upon completion of the course of study; and
- How you will pay all educational, living and travel costs.
Submitting visa application online
All Bangladeshi students must submit their visa applications online using the US Embassy Bangladesh website. Don’t forget to print the application form confirmation page for the visa interview.
Student visa fees
Every visa applicant must pay the visa application processing fee for the visa category unless the application fee is not required. Currently, for students, the visa application fee is $160.
Currently, there is a $350 SEVIS fee on F and M visa applications and $220 for most of the J Visa applications.
English language requirements
English is the primary language of the United States. There are two standard English proficiency tests that many SEVP-certified schools use to determine a prospective student’s command of the language.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- International English Language Test System (IELTS).
US educational institutions require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 bands and a minimum TOEFL score of 60.
