The United States has long been a top choice for Bangladeshi students, known for its world-class universities and academic excellence. For many, studying in the US is a dream that opens doors to global opportunities and successful careers.

The US Embassy in Bangladesh, in a report published on its official website on November 18, 2024, stated that the number of Bangladeshi students in the United States has reached an all-time high, with over 17,000 currently enrolled in U.S. institutions. This marks a 26% increase from the 2022–2023 academic year, the second highest growth rate globally.

According to the report, this sharp rise moved Bangladesh from 13th to 8th place among countries sending international students to the U.S. Within a decade, the number of Bangladeshi students has surged by over 250%, rising from 4,802 in 2013–2014 to 17,099 in 2023–2024.

However, recently allegations have emerged from the applicants and authorized student consultation firms regarding the cancellation of visas, which barring education opportunity.

Earlier on Monday (June 2), the US warned international students, including those from Bangladesh, that failing to comply with visa regulations could lead to visa revocation. The US Embassy in Dhaka, in a message posted on its official Facebook page, outlined several actions that could result in the cancellation of a student visa.

“If you drop out, skip classes, or leave your program of study without informing your school, your student visa may be revoked, and you may lose eligibility for future US visas,” the message read.

The embassy urged students to “always adhere to the terms of your visa and maintain your student status to avoid any issues.”

When Banglanews asked whether it had recorded any such cases involving Bangladeshi students or maintained related data, the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka told Banglanews, "We do not comment on individual visa cases."

However, the warning comes amid heightened scrutiny of visa compliance globally, as the US government continues to reinforce rules around international student conduct and academic participation.

In this regard, Adv. Anuar Hossan (Panna), CEO and Legal Advisor of Visa Point International Bangladesh, told Banglanews that, first of all, a major problem that we are facing these days is that officials of the US Embassy are cancelling appointment dates that were previously slated. 

He said another issue that has come up is the new portal, which is not a user-friendly portal. ‘Often we face technical errors.’

After the Donald Trump administration took charge, a rumor among the students has strongly circulated that the administration is not student-friendly, said Panna.

The visa ratio has gone down so much, for example, five students are receiving a visa out of a hundred, he added.

In another example, he said, even if a genuine student is applying for a visa is being rejected. They are not providing any reasonable reason behind rejecting an application. Just what they are telling is section 214 B.

Mashrul Hossain Khan Lion, Vice President of Higher Study USA Ltd. told Banglanews that, ‘First obstacle, we face, is paying $350 SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee, through Bangladesh Bank one can pay maximum $300 but when is crosses for that one has to wait for permission, which can take a week, even a month.’

‘The second obstacle Bangladeshi students face is that some universities in the US ask students to pay their tuition fee in one part, for which it takes time to transfer the money from Bangladesh,’ he said

Lion said that these days date backlog issue has come in the application process. For instance, a university takes two to three months to issue an I-20, but due to the backlog, a students need to wait for about a year to get a date to face the embassy.

Since January, the US Embassy has made a change in their system, like DS-160 and appointment confirmation number must be the same, or else Embassy officials are canceling the date.

In the end, he said, for example, if one student needs to change their DS and appointment number, they need to change everything they did for a year; therefore, it’s a big issue.

Regarding difficulties in securing U.S. visa appointment slots for Bangladeshi students, a spokesperson for the embassy told Banglanews, "No previously scheduled appointments have been cancelled. Student and exchange program visa applicants may continue to apply, and they must be fully truthful in their applications when doing so. For those who do not have an appointment yet, we recommend you continue to monitor for availability of new slots."

When asked about the decline of the U.S. student visa approval rate, they said, "Visa applications are adjudicated on a case-by-case basis. Whenever an individual applies for a U.S. visa, a consular officer reviews the facts of the case and determines whether the applicant is eligible for that visa based on U.S. law." 

"Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. Obtaining a visa is a privilege, not a right. Every prospective traveler to the United States undergoes interagency security vetting. Prohibiting entry to the United States by those who might pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety is key to protecting U.S. citizens at home," they added.

The official also requested to visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html for information.

MSK/SMS