How to Apply for a Bangladesh Visa in New York
New York is America’s most-populous city, and its metropolitan area has over 20 million people. New York City contains the five boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. The New York metropolitan area includes New York City, Long Island, and the Mid and Lower Hudson Valley. It also includes several large cities in New Jersey such as Newark, Edison, Elizabeth, Paterson, Jersey City, and Hoboken, along with cities in Connecticut that include New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford. New York is considered “Capital of the World”, not only due to its economic power, but also because it is a center of diplomacy and culture. The city is home to the United Nations and there are over 800 languages spoken here, including Bangla, the national language of Bangladesh. With nearly 100,000 Bangladeshi people living in New York, Bangla can be heard throughout the city and chances are good that the person serving your morning coffee at Dunkin’ or driving your taxi is from Bangladesh. New York is the center of Bangladesh culture in the United States and home to two-thirds of Bangladeshi immigrants. There are several dozen Bangladeshi restaurant and grocery stores in New York and the city is home to organizations like the Bangladesh Society.
Bangladesh is a South Asian country located between India and Myanmar, with 440 miles of coastline along the Bay of Bengal. The land size of Bangladesh is only 20% larger than that of New York, however, its population of 165 million residents is over eight times bigger, making this one of the densest countries on the planet. Although the majority of the population speak Bangla, English is spoken and understood by the county’s elite and middle class. Dhaka is the capital and economic center of Bangladesh where most New York businesspeople will spend their time since many of the top apparel companies are based here. Chittagong is the second-largest city in Bangladesh and serves as an important 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 has interesting historical sites and natural beauty such as its mangrove forests, tea gardens, and beaches of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh is not a conventional tourist destination. The real charm of Bangladesh comes from engagement with its people; a visit to Old Dhaka bazaar or a modern mall like Jamuna Future Mall will provide insight into this fascinating country.
Obtaining a Bangladesh Visa from New York
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 Los Angeles and New York City.
To apply for a Bangladesh visa from New York, you will complete the visa application and bring your original passport and supporting documents to their consulate located in Queens (here are the directions to their office: https://www.bdcgny.org/direction). You can also send your documents by US Mail, FedEx, or UPS. Here is the address:
Consulate General of Bangladesh, New York
34-18 Northern Boulevard, Ground Floor
Long Island City, NY 11101
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 the consulate website with detailed information: https://www.bdcgny.org/applying-for-visa
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: https://www.bdcgny.org/applying-for-nvr
- For those travelers concerned about their health and 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 New York
If you are a citizen of Bangladesh living in the New York area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the consulate in New York City by calling 646-645-7242 (this number is only for Life-or-Death Emergencies). The consulate’s telephone number for non-emergency inquiries is 212-599-6767, and their email address is contact@bdcgny.org.
If you need to renew or apply for a first-time Bangladesh passport, please review the instructions found on the following link: https://www.bdcgny.org/e-password
We Can Help if You Need Assistance
If you live in New York City or anywhere in the state of New York or New Jersey 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
