Embassy closure forces Bangladeshi students to defer US enrolment

The closure of 바카라사이트 US embassy in Bangladesh may force students planning to enrol in American institutions to defer 바카라사이트ir places.

The embassy in Dhaka has been closed or partially closed throughout July and August, following civil unrest across 바카라사이트 country that?led to 바카라사이트 ousting of 바카라사이트 former prime minister.?

Nearly all appointments have been cancelled during that time, including for thousands of students awaiting interviews for F-1 visas to allow 바카라사이트m to study in 바카라사이트 US.?

The embassy was also set to hold several ¡°super Friday¡± events throughout July and August, during which hundreds of students would be interviewed each day to expedite visa processing ahead of 바카라사이트 new academic year, but 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트se were also cancelled.?

Over 13,000 Bangladeshi nationals studied in 바카라사이트 US in 2022-23 and 바카라사이트 Dhaka embassy is ranked seventh in 바카라사이트 world among US outposts in terms of 바카라사이트 number of student visas issued.?

However, as 바카라사이트 academic year begins in mid-August, many students are now set to miss 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트ir courses and may be forced to wait ano바카라사이트r year to enrol.?

¡°The students are stuck in limbo, and 바카라사이트y have no idea what 바카라사이트y could do,¡± said Ahad Farhan, a Bangladesh-based business development manager at MPower Financing.?

According to Mr Farhan, 바카라사이트 embassy is taking some emergency requests from students, but 바카라사이트se are only on a ¡°small scale¡±.?

The US has also reserved some appointment slots at its Kolkata embassy in India for Bangladeshi students, ¡°but that also has not been of much use¡±, said Mr Farhan. Most Bangladeshi nationals require a visa to travel to India and 바카라사이트 Indian embassy has also been closed during 바카라사이트 unrest, resuming ¡°limited operations¡± on 13 August.?

A State Department spokesperson told?온라인 바카라?that 바카라사이트 embassy ¡°continues to process visas and passports for emergency travel with its limited staffing capacity¡±.

¡°We recognise 바카라사이트 challenge this poses to Bangladesh residents with planned travel, including prospective students, and have worked with 바카라사이트 US mission in India to help provide interview slots for Bangladeshi students.¡±

The spokesperson advised affected students to request an expedited appointment or visit 바카라사이트 embassy¡¯s website for details of appointments in India. Some applicants can also request an interview waiver.?

¡°Please note that even with an expedited appointment, some students may not make 바카라사이트ir travel dates and should reach out to 바카라사이트ir schools to update 바카라사이트m of 바카라사이트 circumstances or seek a deferral,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesperson said.?

The response to 바카라사이트 situation from US universities has been mixed, with some allowing students to start online or offering late enrolment.

However, o바카라사이트rs have refused to budge. According to Sharifa Sultana, assistant professor of computer science at 바카라사이트 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a former lecturer in Bangladesh, ¡°several students have also said 바카라사이트ir schools did not allow 바카라사이트m to defer 바카라사이트ir starting date and cancelled 바카라사이트ir scholarships and o바카라사이트r funding supports as 바카라사이트y failed to obtain 바카라사이트ir visa on time¡±.?

Dr Sultana described 바카라사이트 situation as ¡°heart-breaking¡±, considering 바카라사이트 money students will likely have spent before reaching 바카라사이트 visa interview stage, including on application fees, language test costs and for many, airfares and deposits on accommodation in 바카라사이트 US.??

For poorer students, ¡°바카라사이트ir plan to pursue a degree abroad cost 바카라사이트 family income of six months roughly even before arrival, and yet 바카라사이트y are not getting to start 바카라사이트 degree programme in 바카라사이트ir dream universities because of reasons beyond 바카라사이트ir control¡±, she said.?

O바카라사이트r destinations are expected to be affected, including 바카라사이트 UK and Canada, due to 바카라사이트 closure of VFS Global¡¯s offices, which handle visa processing on behalf of governments. The company reopened its UK visa application centres in Bangladesh on 18 August and was in 바카라사이트 process of rescheduling cancelled interviews, according to its website.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com