Warden Messages, May 1, 2011

Update to Bangladesh’s Country Specific Information and Visa on Arrival Process

The State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security. Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings are vital parts of this program. Bangladesh’s Country Specific Information has been recently updated, which can be found at www.travel.state.gov.
The American Citizen Services (ACS) unit of the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka wishes to highlight a few of the updates to Bangladesh’s Country Specific Information:
• Entry/Exit Requirements – Please note that Bangladesh has not widely publicized their policies for visas on arrival.  Travelers may encounter delays in airport visa issuance or refused entry if they do not have visas prior to arrival.  Therefore, we recommend that travelers obtain visas prior to arrival. A new Immigration Office has recently opened at the Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport in Dhaka. Previously, landing permits were issued from this airport for a fee of USD 51 but with the opening of this Immigration Office, only visas on arrival will be issued for a fee of USD 150. Please note that visas on arrival are only available from the Immigration Office at the Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport in Dhaka, they are not available at Shah Amanat International Airport located in Chittagong or Osmani International Airport in Sylhet.
• Registration - The Embassy urges all U.S. citizens, even those visiting Bangladesh for a short time, to sign-up with the Embassy’s Consular Section.  In the event of a large-scale emergency, or a personal or family emergency, enrollment allows the Embassy to provide information and critical assistance to U.S. citizens in Bangladesh. Enrollment is the only way to guarantee that the Embassy is aware of your presence in the country and is able to contact you and assist you in such circumstances. We encourage you to sign-up online by using the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
• Accessibility – This new section covers the issues of accessibility for those individuals with disabilities travelling to Bangladesh.
The U.S. Embassy’s regular work week is Sunday-Thursday, 0800-1630 hours.
Emergency American Citizens Services are available at all times.  The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka can be reached at (880) (2) 885-5500 during regular hours and for after-hours emergencies.  For after-hours emergency services please press “0” and ask for the duty officer.

U.S. citizens resident or traveling in Bangladesh are urged to enroll with the U.S. Embassy or nearest U.S. Consulate via the Department of State's on-line enrollment service through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) located at http://travel.state.gov.  Travel enrollment allows the Department of State to contact its citizens in the event of an emergency and to provide up-to-date safety and security information.  Enrollees wishing to receive such information must provide an e-mail address with their enrollment.  All enrollees are urged to provide complete contact information and a departure date when signing up on-line.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs internet website at
http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and health-information resources can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers in other areas by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

American Citizens Services
U.S. Embassy
Dhaka, Bangladesh