Bangladeshis living outside the capital can now set up appointment dates for interviews for US visas, pay visa application fee, and collect their passports from the United States embassy without having to come to Dhaka.

Michele Thoren Bond, acting assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, informed reporters of the changes in the visa application process at a press conference at the American Center in the capital's Baridhara yesterday.

Onwards from September 14, visa seekers can apply for US visas at www.USTravelDocs.com/b d, and also seek appointment dates convenient for them for the interview. However, the interview will still take place in the capital.

Besides, a call centre would operate from 8:00am to 8:00pm every Sunday to Thursday, to provide people interested in travelling to

the US with assistance regarding visa queries.

Another US-based call centre would be accessible for queries 24-hours from Monday to Friday.

For payment of visa application fees, instead of paying at Standard Chartered Bank, people can pay at six branches of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) — two in Dhaka and the others in Narayanganj, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Chittagong.

Saimon Overseas, a private company that facilitates visa processing, has expanded their services for document collection and visa pickup in Chittagong and Sylhet.

"The US Department of State and the embassy in Dhaka are committed to facilitate legitimate travel to the United States," said Bond, observing that the number of Bangladeshis applying for US visas tripled in 2013 from 2012.