US immigration · Bangladesh
There is no single US immigration application. People from Bangladesh go through a relative, an employer, study or, in some years, the lottery. Here is every route side by side, which are permanent, and where each is explained.
Start with what you want. To live in the United States permanently you need an immigrant route that ends in a green card. A non-immigrant visa lets you study or work for a time and then ends.
People with a close relative who is a US citizen or a green card holder and is willing to sponsor them.
Permanent?
Yes, a green card.
Spouses, parents and unmarried minor children of US citizens move fastest. Brothers, sisters and married children wait in capped queues that can run for many years.
Family sponsorship compared →People with a genuine permanent job offer from a US employer, for work that needs less than two years of training. No degree is required.
Permanent?
Yes, a green card.
One of the few permanent routes open without a degree or a relative. The employer sponsors you and pays for the labour certification. The queue is long and nobody can shorten it.
The EB-3 guide for Bangladesh →Graduates, people with two or more years of skilled experience, and those with an exceptional record in their field (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 skilled).
Permanent?
Yes, a green card.
Usually a shorter queue than the unskilled route. Most need an employer; some EB-1 and EB-2 cases can petition for themselves.
Employment routes compared →People admitted to a US college or university who can pay for their studies and living costs.
Permanent?
No. It is temporary.
Study can lead to work and later to employer sponsorship, but nothing is automatic, and working during study is tightly limited.
Student and exchange visas →Seasonal farm or non-farm work (H-2A, H-2B), or a specialist job that requires a degree (H-1B).
Permanent?
No. They end, though an H-1B holder may pursue a green card.
H-2B jobs look like EB-3 unskilled jobs, which is why the two are confused. H-2B ends and sends you home; EB-3 ends in a green card.
Temporary visas compared →People born in a country the programme includes that year.
Permanent?
Yes, for the few selected.
Eligibility is by country of birth and the list changes every year. Bangladesh has been on the excluded list in recent years, so check the current year's rules. Entering is always free.
How the lottery works →Whichever route brings you, the last stages run the same way for an applicant living in Bangladesh.
STEP 1
Every immigrant route starts with someone filing for you: a relative, an employer, or in a few cases yourself. Nobody can apply for a green card from Bangladesh without one.
STEP 2
Once the petition is approved, the National Visa Center collects your forms, fees and civil documents and tells you what is still missing.
STEP 3
Birth, marriage and police certificates and the other civil documents in the form the State Department lists for Bangladesh, for you and for each family member travelling with you.
STEP 4
With a physician the US Embassy has approved, before the interview.
STEP 5
Applicants living in Bangladesh are interviewed at the US Embassy in Dhaka, which processes immigrant visas.
We support applicants from Bangladesh on the EB-3 unskilled worker visa: a permanent green card through a US employer, open without a degree. If another route fits you better, we will say so. To compare every option in more depth, read which US visa pathway fits you.
This page is general information about a US immigration category, not legal advice. ImmiAxis is not a law firm. For advice on your own case, consult a qualified immigration attorney or accredited representative.
