How to Apply for a Bangladesh Visa in Detroit

Detroit is the largest city in the state of Michigan and the second largest metropolitan area in the Midwest.  Detroit is better known by its nickname “Motor City”, or “Motown”, because of its prominence as the global center of the automotive industry.  Although the city has certainly had its share of ups and downs, Detroit remains an important and influential American city.  The Detroit metropolitan area, known as Metro Detroit, has a population of 4.3 million and includes the towns of Dearborn, Royal Oak, Auburn Hills, Livonia, Southfield, Rochester Hills, Pontiac, Sterling Heights, and Warren—an important community for immigrants from Bangladesh.  The town of Hamtramck is another important town for Bangladeshi people and is home to “Banglatown”, a Detroit neighborhood with several Bangladesh restaurants, grocery stores, and clothing shops.  Bangladesh immigrants first came to Detroit in the 1930’s to find jobs in the auto industry, but in the past 20 years the population has grown rapidly thanks to the area’s low housing costs.  There could be as many as 25,000 Bangladeshi people in Metro Detroit and double that number throughout the state of Michigan.  Detroit is home to the Bangladesh Association of Michigan and there is a Bangladesh Student Association at Wayne State University.

Bangladesh is a South Asian country located between India and Myanmar, with 440 miles of coastline along the Bay of Bengal.  With a population of 165 million people packed into an area about three-fifths the size of Michigan, this is one of the densest countries on the planet.  Although 98% of the population are Bengali people and speak the Bengali language (Bangla), English is understood by the county’s elite and middle class.  Dhaka is the capital and economic center of Bangladesh.  Most Detroit-area business visitors to the country will likely spend their time in Gulshan, which is the upscale part of the city.  Chittagong is the second-largest city in Bangladesh and also serves as a major economic driver of the country.  Chittagong is home to one of South Asia’s largest ports and has several export processing zones cranking out consumer and industrial products for the global economy.  Although the country does have interesting historical sites and natural beauty, such as its beaches along Cox’s Bazar, Sreemangal Tea Gardens, and Sajek Valley, Bangladesh is not a conventional tourist destination.  But the scarcity of tourists is exactly what makes Bangladesh so appealing: visitors will get to experience a country that is truly authentic and virtually untouched by the consumer travel industry. 

Obtaining a Bangladesh Visa from Detroit

Bangladesh visas are issued by the government of Bangladesh in the United States.  The government of Bangladesh is represented by their embassy located in Washington, D.C. along with two consulates located in New York City and Los Angeles. 

To apply for a Bangladesh visa from Detroit you will complete the visa application and send your original passport and supporting documents to their embassy by US Mail, FedEx, or UPS.  Here is the address:

Embassy of Bangladesh
Attn: VISA
3510 International Drive NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

It is important to review the requirements for visas on the Bangladesh embassy website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate.  Here is the link to the embassy website with detailed information: The Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington DC - Instruction and Requirement for Visa (bdembassyusa.org)

The normal processing time for a visa will be about 3 weeks and the government fee is $160 for Americans wishing to obtain a tourist or business visa (employment and work visas are $190).

Other things to consider:

  • It may be possible for some American business travelers to apply for a visa on arrival at the airport in Bangladesh, however, it is strongly recommended to apply for your visa from the United States before starting your journey.  Without a visa in your passport, you may be denied boarding on your departing flight, or you may get denied entry into Bangladesh.  Please read the international travel section on the US Department of State website for the latest information regarding entry requirements for Bangladesh: Bangladesh International Travel Information (state.gov)
  • U.S. citizens of Bangladesh origin and their spouse and children are eligible for the NVR endorsement (NVR = No Visa Required).  This seal is issued inside one of the pages of your American passport by the Bangladesh embassy.  Please check the embassy website for more information: The Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington DC - Instruction and Requirement for NVR (No Visa Required) (bdembassyusa.org)
  • For those travelers concerned about their health and wanting to learn about the recommended medicines and vaccines for travel to Bangladesh, please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website as follows: Bangladesh - Traveler view | Travelers' Health | CDC
  • It is recommended to purchase travel insurance before any international trip in case of medical emergencies.  We advise getting the Geo Blue Voyager Single Trip Plan.

Emergency Assistance for Citizens of Bangladesh in Detroit

If you are a citizen of Bangladesh living in the Detroit area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the embassy by calling 202-740-6305 (this number is only for Life-or-Death Emergencies).  The consulate’s telephone number for non-emergency inquiries is 202-244-0183.   

If you need to renew or apply for a first-time Bangladesh passport, please review the instructions found on the following link: The Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington DC - Passport Re-Issue (bdembassyusa.org)

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in the Detroit area or anywhere in the state of Michigan and have difficulty applying for a visa for Bangladesh or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Bangladesh visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the government of Bangladesh.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Bangladesh visa services for our customers:

  • Bangladesh Tourist Visa
  • Bangladesh Business/Meeting Visa
  • Bangladesh Investor Visa
  • Bangladesh Missionary Visa
  • Bangladesh Diplomatic and Official Visa
  • Bangladesh Journalist Visa
  • Bangladesh Student Visa
  • Bangladesh Hotel Accommodations