US Embassy Advises Visa Applicants to Apply in Their Home Country

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka has advised visa applicants to schedule their visa interviews at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country, warning that applying from a third country could make the process more difficult and reduce the chances of visa approval.

The guidance was shared on Sunday through the embassy's verified Facebook page.

According to the embassy, applicants are strongly encouraged to book their visa interview appointments at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of residence. Applying from another country may complicate the application process and could lower the likelihood of obtaining a visa. The embassy also noted that visa application fees are non-refundable, even if the application is unsuccessful.

Earlier, the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka announced a new two-step interview process for all immigrant visa applicants.

Under the updated requirements, applicants must list the usernames or handles for all social media accounts used during the past five years on the DS-160 visa application form. The embassy warned that failing to disclose social media information or providing incomplete or inaccurate details could lead to the rejection of a visa application. It also cautioned that such omissions may affect an applicant's eligibility for future U.S. visas.