How to Apply for a Bangladesh Visa in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is America’s second most populous city after New York.  Greater Los Angeles—which includes Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, Ventura County, and Orange County—has a population of nearly 19 million people.  Known for its endless sprawl, Greater Los Angeles is the largest metropolitan region in the United States by land area and includes over 200 cities such as Santa Monica, Pasadena, Culver City, Burbank, Long Beach, Carson, Irvine, Anaheim, and Inglewood.  Los Angeles and the Southern California region have a huge economy that attracts people from all over the country.  The area also attracts immigrants from all over the world to pursue business opportunities.  There are 15,000 Bangladeshi immigrants in Los Angeles and about 25,000 living throughout Southern California, making this the 2nd most populated region in the United States for people whose ethnic heritage comes from Bangladesh.  Los Angeles is home to Little Bangladesh, a four-block area near the Islamic Center of Southern California that has Bangladeshi restaurants and shops.  The city is also home to several cultural and social organizations such as the Bangladesh Unity Federation of Los Angeles, which organizes the annual Bangladesh Independence Day Parade. 

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 the size of Southern California (which only has 24 million people), 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 American 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 clothing and textiles for Los Angeles area shopping malls.  Although the country does have interesting historical sites and natural beauty, Bangladesh is not a conventional tourist destination.  Instead, it is best enjoyed as an opportunity to experience a culture untouched by the consumer tourism industry.  A visit to Old Dhaka, or even a visit to Jamuna Future Park (the country’s largest mall), are great places for interacting with locals.

Obtaining a Bangladesh Visa from Los Angeles

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 Los Angeles you will complete the visa application and bring your original passport and supporting documents to their consulate in the Beverly Grove neighborhood (between Miracle Mile and The Grove).  Or you can send your application documents by US Mail, FedEx, or UPS.  Here is their address:

Consulate General of Bangladesh
501 South Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036

It is important to review the requirements for visas on the Bangladesh consulate website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate.  Here is the link to their website with detailed information: https://www.bangladeshconsulatela.com/visa.html

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 consulate website for more information: https://www.bangladeshconsulatela.com/nvr.html
  • 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 Los Angeles

If you are a citizen of Bangladesh living in the Los Angeles area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the consulate by calling 323-932-0100, or 323-932-0013, or 323-932-9731.  The consulate’s email address is bcgla09@gmail.com.

If you need to renew or apply for a first-time Bangladesh passport, please review the instructions found on the following link: https://www.bangladeshconsulatela.com/passport.html

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in the Los Angeles area or anywhere in Southern California 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 in Los Angeles:

  • 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