Thousands of Bangladeshi students face uncertainty with US visas, putting scholarships and academic timelines in jeopardy due to embassy delays and local unrest
Every year, thousands of Bangladeshi students dream of pursuing higher education in the United States, securing many prestigious scholarships. Recent delays in visa processing have put many of them in an anxious state of uncertainty about their academic future.
Scholarships at Risk Amid Visa Delays
A glaring example is Nasrin Jabin, one of the foremost graduating students from the university’s Department of Peace and Conflict Studies. Receiving the coveted ‘Tajuddin Ahmed Peace Gold Medal’ and securing fully-funded scholarships toward the PhD degree at Washington State
University, her journey now unexpectedly is hitting the road. Despite the orientation scheduled on August 14 and classes to begin on August 15, her visa interview has been postponed twice because of disruptions caused by the quota reform movement and continuing curfews in Dhaka.
Her initial interview, set for July 19, was delayed to July 26 and later canceled without a new appointment. “I’ve been trying to reschedule through the embassy website, but the uncertainty is overwhelming,” she told Bonik Barta.
Rising Numbers, Rising Concerns
Bangladeshi students going for US education have witnessed a trend unlike any other in history. Last year, 13,563 students traveled to the US from Bangladesh, making it a whopping 28% hike from the previous year. As of now, Bangladesh has also become one of the countries sending the largest number of international students to the United States; it ranked 13th globally this year.
Since the past decade, Bangladeshi students have increased by over 300% in the US, reflecting an ever-increasing presence in American academia. However, the growing demand has only heightened the problems associated with visa delays. Another scholarship holder, Tofayel Ahmed (name changed), shared his experience.
After winning a fully funded scholarship in civil engineering at the University of Louisiana, He, too, experienced multiple cancellations of his visa interview. “I have already rented a place in the US and booked my flight, but now everything hangs in uncertainty,” he said in a lament.
The Aftermath of Local Unrest
The situation has been complicated further by the unrest and curfews in Bangladesh. The US Embassy in Dhaka has not conducted visa interviews for weeks, citing safety concerns. Although applicants are notified of new dates via email, many have reported difficulty securing appointments through the embassy’s online system.
Interviews with 20 affected students revealed that all the scheduled appointments for July 17 were postponed, but many whose appointments were for July 20 are still pending updates. This delay threatens not only their ability to attend classes but also threatens their scholarships.
Dr. Bruce Pinkleton, Dean of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University, said that in his institution, punctuality also matters. “Missing the first days of classes can create funding or even loss of scholarship,” he said.
Far-reaching Implications
The situation has also led to changes within the US Embassy itself. After the riot, the US State Department allowed the voluntary departure of non-emergency personnel and their families. These two factors have contributed to the backlog in visa processing and the logistical challenges of resuming normal operations.
Thousands of Bangladeshi students anxiously await their fate as hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis dream of higher education in the US. For them, it is not a simple logistical issue but a crossroads determining the course of their lives.