Parasite | Blu-ray (Criterion)

Parasite | Blu-ray (Criterion)

Parasite | Blu-ray (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: October 27, 2020

The Winner of the prestigious Palme d’Or (more importantly, it has been stamped “Certified On Fire” by our vey own Paul Bramhall) is making its way to Blu-ray on October 27, 2020, courtesy of The Criterion Collection.

Acclaimed South Korean director Bong Joon-ho (Okja) is back with Parasite (read our non-spoiler review), a black comedy/thriller starring the Bong’s frequent collaborator, Song Kang-ho (Memories of Murder).

Two families in Seoul—one barely scraping by in a dank semibasement in a low-lying neighborhood, the other living in luxury in a modern architectural marvel overlooking the city—find themselves on a collision course that will Continue reading

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, News |

Here’s what’s coming to Hi-YAH! this month…

Hi-YAH!, Well Go USA’s very own Asian/martial arts streaming channel has just announced their New Release line up for the month of July – complete with a new film added to Hi-YAH! every Friday, as well as an additional exclusive title!

Without further ado, here’s what’s coming this month to Hi-YAH!… Continue reading

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Legacy of Lies (2020) Review

Legacy of Lies | DVD (Lionsgate)

Legacy of Lies | DVD (Lionsgate)

Director: Adrian Bol
Producer: Marco Robinson
Cast: Scott Adkins, Honor Kneafsey, Andrea Vasiliou, Anna Butkevich, Victor Solé, Matt Mitler, Yuliia Sobol, Martin McDougall, Chee Leon Sua
Running Time: 101 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

The latest Scott Adkins vehicle Legacy of Lies has had an interesting journey to the screen. A passion project of Dutch director and writer Adrian Bol and producer Marco Robinson, it was originally planned that Robinson would play the lead, however those plans changed when the proof of concept trailer won at the Ukrainian Film Foundation. The prize was a million dollars to fund the production, but with the caveat that to access the money, it needs a bankable star attached to it. Thankfully, with only 2 weeks left before the fund expired, British martial arts star Scott Adkins entered the picture, securing the prize money needed to kickstart the Continue reading

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How Much Does Probate Cost on Average?

How Much Does Probate Cost on Average?

How Much Does Probate Cost on Average?

The passing of a loved one can be one of the most difficult times that you experience. Not only do you have to settle their assets and organize the legal proceedings and make funeral arrangements, but you have to do a lot of that as you grieve your loved one.

Probate court is one such complex activity that you will have to navigate after the passing of a loved one. In this article, we’ll give you details on how probate court works and how much you can expect the budget for probate cost to make this process a little simpler for you.

What Is Probate Court?

Before we start talking about the details, let’s first make sure that we have a sound understanding of what probate court is exactly.

The first thing to know is that probate court is a distinct type of legal proceedings. Probate judges serve in probate court. The purpose of this court is to adjudicate over the possessions and wealth of someone who has passed away.

The first and foremost responsibility of the probate court is to ensure that all of the creditors of the passed person receive compensation for the credit they had extended to the deceased. This means that if your loved one had significant debts, then a lot of their estate may be eaten up by those debts before it is distributed as per their will.

In instances where a will was not left and ownership of possessions is disputed, a probate court will also help adjudicate the ownership of those possessions and wealth.

As a general rule, if you know that there are is a complex situation regarding this particular inheritance (a complicated will, lots of debt, etc.) you should hire a probate lawyer to help you navigate the probate process.

How Much Does Probate Cost?

Now that you know what probate court is, let’s talk money. Probate court costs money. The total fees of the court will depend based on the case.

Generally, the cost of the process could end up being up to 8% of the total estate. There are several factors to consider. First is the actual court fees that you owe to the court of law. The second is the fees that you will owe to the lawyer.

Lastly, you’ll also have to consider bond fees, valuation fees, and accounting fees. Not to mention, at the end of the day a lot of the inheritance will be taxed. This will be an additional cost on top of the answer to the question, “how much is probate?”

Prepare for Probate

The main takeaway here is that probate court is something that you should prepare for. Try your best to ensure that you are able to get a good lawyer that will maximize the amount of money you get from the estate. Be sure to budget for the miscellaneous fees, however.

For more legal articles, check out the rest of the articles available to read on the website before you leave!

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Deal on Fire! The Samurai Trilogy | Blu-ray | Only $34.99 – Expires soon!

"The Samurai Trilogy" Blu-ray Cover

“The Samurai Trilogy” Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Criterion’s The Samurai Trilogy, directed by Hiroshi Inagaki and starring the inimitable Toshiro Mifune, was one of Japan’s most successful exports of the 1950s, a rousing, emotionally gripping tale of combat and self-discovery.

Based on a novel that’s often called Japan’s Gone with the Wind, this sweeping saga fictionalizes the life of the legendary seventeenth-century swordsman (and writer and artist) Musashi Miyamoto, following him on his path from unruly youth to enlightened warrior.

With these three films—1954’s Oscar-winning Musashi Miyamoto, 1955’s Duel at Ichijoji Temple, and 1956’s Duel at Ganryu Island—Inagaki created a passionate epic that’s equal parts tender love story Continue reading

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

A Gamer’s Dilemma: Should You Buy a PS4 Now or Wait for a PS5?

A Gamer's Dilemma: Should You Buy a PS4 Now or Wait for a PS5?

A Gamer’s Dilemma: Should You Buy a PS4 Now or Wait for a PS5?

So, you’re a gamer and want the latest and greatest power for all of your needs.

Whether you are playing Triple-A titles or lighter games, you must have the diverse and proper equipment to do the job.

The PlayStation is an iconic piece of gaming equipment and is currently in its fourth generation. With impressive specs, the PS4 has been a great console.

There may be the question of, “Should I buy a PS4?” however, the latest and greatest PS5 is on the horizon to replace the PS4.

Are the specs worth it? We’re here to break it down for you whether or not it is worth the investment.

PS4 and PS5 Key Differences

Currently, the PS5 is slated for release later this year. However, an official release date has not been confirmed, though hinting around the holiday season.

The PS4, released in 2013, still has pretty reasonable specs. It rocks an 8-core AMD processor that clocks at 1.6 GHz at the baseline. In addition to the processor, the baseline PS4 also has a 500GB hard drive.

These specs are still reasonable by 2020 standards, but if you play newer titles, you may experience slight choppiness and also storage issues.

However, there is also the PS4 Pro, which offers an attractive 2.13 GHz processor and up to 2TB of storage for all of your gaming needs. The prices begin at $300 for the base console and $400 for the PS4 Pro.

The PS5, however, is a new beast. As announced, the PS5 is equipped with an AMD Zen 2-based processor with eight cores and a clock speed of 3.5 GHz alongside a fancy-schmancy 825GB SSD, which is customizable.

PS4 vs. PS5: Design

The PS4 design is minimal, with its black finish and low profile, it is sleek and compact. In addition to its minimalism, it is also subdued and does not draw too much attention.

However, the PS5 is a whole new generation of gaming console. The sleek, futuristic dual-tone PS5 is elegant white with a black interior and LED lights on the internal panels.

The PS5 is a stunner and mixes up the look of the console. Additionally, it is more eye-catching than the previous generation.

Should I Buy a PS4?

With crucial differences in specs and a design change, you may still be wondering what to buy.

The PS4 currently supports the latest games, but once the newer generation comes out, the support may wane.

Of course, there has been no official talk of support being cut off for the PS4, but it is still important to factor in how long you plan to keep the console and what games you want to play.

As of now, PS4 should have support for the next couple of years.

If you are a casual user who enjoys lighter titles or games that are well-optimized, then a PS4 may be the best option for you.

There are also a wide variety of PS4 games that are worth your time, which you can read about in this post.

However, if you want to be on the cutting edge of tech and have access to the latest and greatest games, then it may be worth holding out for the PS5.

Which is Best for You

Should I buy a PS4?

With specs, design, and support into consideration, it is now up to you to decide what PlayStation is best for you. No matter if you choose a PS4 or PS5, you will still have an excellent console.

Do you love video games? Then check out our site for more information on gaming and tech.

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Ninja Over the Great Wall (1987) Review

"Ninja Over the Great Wall" Theatrical Poster

“Ninja Over the Great Wall” Theatrical Poster

AKA: Fire on the Great Wall
Director: Bruce Le
Cast: Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Li Ning, Yu Hai, Leung Yim, Shikamura Yasuyoshi, Cheng Yuen Man, Xue Bai, Gao Jian-Hua, Ma Zheng, Yang Li-Xin
Running Time: 90 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

After spending 10 years playing various incarnations of Bruce Lee within the infamous Bruceploitation genre, Huang Kin-Lung (or Bruce Le as he’s more commonly known) directed what could be considered his first production which didn’t rely on the connection to the Little Dragon. Out of all the clones that sprung up in the wake of Bruce Lee’s death, it’s Le whose filmography most represents someone attempting to take control of his own career. Originally hired by the Shaw Brothers studios and cast as a supporting player in the likes of Rivals of Kung Fu and Big Brother Cheng, Le quit before being given a shot at lead role, and subsequently found himself inadvertently cast as a Bruce Lee clone. What was the job of a Bruce Lee clone? Continue reading

Posted in All, Bruceploitation, Chinese, News, Ninja, Reviews | Tagged |

Donnie Yen to play a Chinese-Mexican drug dealer for English-language thriller ‘Golden Empire’

“Chasing the Dragon” Theatrical Poster

“Chasing the Dragon” Theatrical Poster

In addition to Sleeping Dogs, martial arts star Donnie Yen (Ip Man 4: The Finale) is set to star and produce Golden Empire, an English-language crime thriller that’s being marketed as “the first major narco film with an Asian lead that plays to global audiences.”

Golden Empire will explore the complexities of the character, showcasing the inner turmoil of one of the world’s most successful multinational drug lords. Yen also played a real-life gangster in 2017 pic Chasing the Dragon, in which he starred alongside Andy Lau. Producer Peter Luo (Midway, Crazy Rich Asians), CEO at Starlight Media, said that performance led him to believe the actor was the only candidate to lead Golden Empire (via Deadline).

So far, no director or Continue reading

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Charlize Theron gives us an update on ‘Atomic Blonde 2’

"Atomic Blonde" International Theatrical Poster

“Atomic Blonde” International Theatrical Poster

Action starlet (are we even allowed to say that in this day and age?) Charlize Theron has re-confirmed that a sequel to David Leitch’s 2017 action-thriller Atomic Blonde (read our review) is still very high on the priority list.

The original movie – dubbed “the female version of John Wick” – was previously known as The Coldest City, the title of Antony Johnston’s 2012 graphic novel, from which the film was based.

“We’re in the development stages right now, and that’s the one thing that lockdown has been good for — being able to develop with writers over Zoom. So, we’re actively developing [an Atomic Blonde sequel] right now”, Theron told THR in a recent interview while promoting The Old Guard Continue reading

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Donnie Yen re-awakens his ambitious ‘Sleeping Dogs’

"Flash Point" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“Flash Point” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Considering Donnie Yen’s (Chasing the Dragon, Kung Fu Jungle) involvement in two high-profile Hollywood projects (xXx: Return of Xander Cage, Star Wars: Rogue One), it was inevitable that he would sooner, rather than later, headline his own Hollywood film.

Over 3 years ago, it was reported that the Hong Kong superstar would be starring in a film adaptation of Square Enix’s hit video game Sleeping Dogs, produced by Neal Moritz (Fast and Furious franchise).

Since then, news about Sleeping dogs was off and on, but now, Yen recently re-confirmed his participation in the film, posting a video of himself busting a few warm-up moves at the gym and writing that he is “aiming to make another breakthrough movie.” Continue reading

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I Am Vengeance: Retaliation (2020) Review

"I Am Vengeance: Retaliation"

“I Am Vengeance: Retaliation”

Director: Ross Boyask
Writer: Ross Boyask
Cast: Stu Bennett, Vinnie Jones, Jacob Anderton, Sam Benjamin, Lainy Boyle, Greg Burridge, Lee Charles, Jean-Paul Ly, Jennifer Lee Moon
Running Time: 90 min.

By Martin Sandison

A year or so ago I reviewed the fantastic Nightshooters, a film I believe to have the best martial arts fights in any British movie, courtesy of rising star Jean Paul Ly. With us all eagerly anticipating his Jailbreak 2, with mouthwatering match-ups thanks to Indonesian stars Yayah Ruhian and Cecep Arif Rahman coming onboard, Ly brings his expertise at screen fighting to another British production in the meantime: I Am Vengeance: Retaliation. I’ll admit I’m a bit late to the party with regards to these films, having checked out the original just prior to seeing the sequel. The first was a fun, little actioner, with a super low budget masked by 21st century in-jokes and some decent action. The sequel ups the ante very considerably, and for me it’s great to see a British movie that has non-stop decent to high quality action. This comes courtesy of Tim Man, arguably one of the best choreographers working just now. Continue reading

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The Winning Hand: 7 Essential Baccarat Tips for the Online Player

The Winning Hand: 7 Essential Baccarat Tips for the Online Player

The Winning Hand: 7 Essential Baccarat Tips for the Online Player

When it comes to online gaming, now is the best time to brush up on your skills, especially when it comes to Baccarat. If you’re trying to figure out ways to improve your chances of winning online, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, you’re going to find need to know baccarat tips that will have you playing like a professional. Still not convinced?

Continue reading this guide for everything that you need to know.

1. Manage Your Money

Much like any other game where your money is on the line, it’s crucial to manage the money you play with. A good rule of thumb to have is if you’re losing money, it may be a fantastic idea to exit the game and cut your losses.

This will keep you from continually putting more money into the game. The same thing goes for when you find that you’re winning a lot of money. Instead of taking your winnings and putting it into another game, end the game.

Before you begin playing online, ensure that you set a budget for the amount of money you’ll use for the night and a time limit. The time limit will ensure that you don’t spend all of your time online, and the budget will ensure that you don’t overspend while playing.

2. Avoid Tie Bets

When some people find themselves playing, they enjoy making the tie bet. But, we want to encourage you to avoid making this decision at all costs. Why you may ask?

Because when you’re playing, you’re looking to put your money on what makes sense and win you the most money in return. Playing the tie bet leaves you hanging in the balance with an uncertain wager.

Therefore, to avoid being on the wrong end of the wager, avoid the tie bet.

3. Play With Table Limits

If you find that you’ve got a hard time sticking to the budget and time limit that you’ve given yourself, choose a place to play that has strict table limit guidelines. This means that you can lose a certain amount of times before you’ve got to leave the table and a specific amount that you can win before leaving the table.

Each table game you enter will have its own rules and guidelines for entering the game that’s played in that arena. Ensure you know the guidelines before entering the game.

If you’re looking for a reliable place to play, check out UFABetworld.com.

4. Follow the Dealer’s Lead

Baccarat is a game that relies on making the right bet to win the most amount of money. One way to increase your chances of winning is to follow the lead of the dealer.

It’s in your best interest that when placing your bets, you put money on the dealer winning because the dealer winning is always a likely outcome. Remember, the house always wins and makes the money they give out back.

However, take note that when you bet on the dealer and win, you have to provide a percentage of your winnings as commission to the dealer.

5. Streak Are Not Reliable

Have you ever seen someone continue betting with the idea that their on fire and can’t be beaten? The only way that a streak ends is in flames because streaks aren’t reliable.

Doing well on a table has less to do with being lucky, and much more to do with the strategy that the player uses when they play. When you consider yourself to be on a streak remember to may your decisions wisely.

6. Play By the Rules

It can be easy to march to the beat of your own drum when playing online casino games, but that drum can leave you without any money and out of the game. Before playing the game, know what the rules are and how to play correctly.

The kings, jacks, tens, and queens hold the value of 0. While an ace is 1. When you take two cards and combine them for a sum above 9, you’ll need to take away 10 to find the actual card value. When you understand this and learn how to watch the cards being dealt with, you’ll be able to increase the likelihood of winning.

7. Take Your Earnings

The majority of the time, when playing a game like Baccarat, you’re not going to see large sums of winnings, and that’s okay. You’ve got to be able to walk away with smaller winnings and know that you played a good game.

The art if gambling is driven by people’s need to hit it big, and that’s what drives them to continue playing hand after hand and placing bet after bet. When you’re satisfied with a small earning at least, you know that you’ll have money to come back and play at a later time.

Chasing a huge win will leave you in a negative deficit trying to find money to bet with just to break even. Avoid the gambling trance and be happy with the winnings that you’ve got.

You’ll find that you walk away as a winner majority of the time.

Baccarat Tips Explained

When it comes to the baccarat tips, you need to improve your chances of winning, remember that betting on the dealer is always one of the best ideas that you could have. And it’s crucial to understand and know the rules of the table before you begin playing.

No one wants to lose money unnecessarily because they forgot to read through all of the rules that they were given.

We hope this article was full of useful tips to make your next Baccarat game enjoyable. If you’re looking for other articles that are packed full of information that you could use daily, check out some of the other posts that we’ve published on our site.

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Casino Game Odds Explained: How to Understand Gambling Odds

Casino Game Odds Explained: How to Understand Gambling Odds

Casino Game Odds Explained: How to Understand Gambling Odds

Do you find all the different odds of casino games hard to understand?

You’re not alone if you feel this. But the truth is that you don’t need to be a genius to learn the basic odds of winning.

Learning casino game odds will not only improve your skill in making bets, but it will also give you greater enjoyment as well. So, let’s help you bet smarter with this guide on gambling odds.

How Does Betting Work?

First things first – what are we doing when we place a bet?

When you place a bet, you are saying that you think (or hope) that a certain outcome is going to occur. For example, in a game of roulette, you can bet that the ball is going to land on the number 7.

Gambling odds are determined by the probability of an outcome actually occurring. For example, the probability that the roulette ball will land on the number 7 is very low. This is because there are 35 other numbers (and the ‘0’) that the ball can also land on.

So, if the probability of the event occurring is low, you stand to win more money. If the probability is high, you stand to win less money.

The Best Casino Game Odds

If you’re looking for casino game tips, make sure you go for the games that offer the best odds in the casino. To work out the casino games with the best odds, you need to look at something called the Return to Player (RTP) rate.

Working out the RTP rate of a slot machine is easy since the machine is guaranteed to return a certain amount of money to players regularly. However, casino games are a bit more tricky because skill is also involved.

For example, skilled blackjack players can get an RTP rate in excess of 99%. However, a poor player may have an RTP rate that is much lower.

Another complicating factor is that different games offer different bet types. For example, different bets in roulette come with odds ranging from 35-to-1 (you win $36 on a $1 bet) to 1-to-1 (you win $2 on a $1 bet).

All in all, there are a lot of different ways that casino game odds work. So, you need to find the best way to make these odds work for you.

Make the Most of the Odds

To get the best casino game odds, you need to find a casino game that suits your skill level. Blackjack is usually considered to be the best-paying game in the casino. But if you don’t know what you are doing, this is just an illusion.

So, find a betting system that you know and are comfortable with. This might be a simplified blackjack strategy or a particular roulette betting pattern. Knowing your limits will allow you to better forecast your potential for winning, and also losing.

Remember to keep track of your losses and make the odds work in your favor.

Now that you’ve got casino odds explained, why not read some of our other great articles on gaming?

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How to Find a Roofer You Can Trust: 4 Helpful Tips

How to Find a Roofer You Can Trust: 4 Helpful Tips

How to Find a Roofer You Can Trust: 4 Helpful Tips

The average national cost of a roofing replacement is about $8,000. Some jobs will be more or less, of course, but that’s a rough average.

Even if you aren’t replacing an entire roof, you can easily spend several thousand dollars on a roofing contract. That’s one reason why knowing how to find a roofer is so important.

In most areas, there’s no shortage of roofing companies. So what kind of information should you get before hiring a roofer? What kind of questions should you ask?

Keep reading for four basic tips that will help you figure out how to hire a roofer.

1. Get Local References

It’s tempting to start calling or emailing companies first. But before you do that, talk to a few friends.

Roofing work is a common construction project. Talking to a few local people will help you get the names of roofing companies and contractors you can trust.

Why does the local angle matter? It decreases your chances of getting scammed by an unscrupulous roofing contractor.

Roofing scams are more common after a natural disaster. Homeowners in that situation are more desperate for quick fixes. That can lead to mistakes in judgment.

2. Check Licensing and Insurance

Licensing and insurance companies for roofers will vary by state and city. If you aren’t sure what to look for, call your local code enforcement office.

Insurance is also critical. If a company won’t take the time to get the necessary insurance, that means they’re likely to skip skips. Don’t hire someone like that to work on any part of your house.

Reputable roofing companies will be upfront about their credentials. It won’t be something you have to badger them about providing.

3. Talk to Multiple Roofers

You’ve talked to one company that seems like they know what they’re doing. You’re ready to sign a contract already and get to work.

Slow down a little bit. If you get in too much hurry, you might miss something important.

Call at least three roofing companies before you commit to hiring a roofer. This gives you a better sense of the proper price range for your project.

It can also alert you to any red flags that you might have missed. For instance, let’s say Contractor B gives you an estimate that’s half the price of Contractor A. Dig further to figure out why the difference is so big.

4. Decline the Hard Sell

Roofing companies shouldn’t act like a used car salesman. If you feel like someone is bullying you or manipulating you, thank them for their time and move on.

The most obvious example of this is someone who pushes you to sign a contract before you ready. If you’re asking questions about warranties and they’re ignoring you, why would you want to sign a contract?

Take time to find someone who will listen to you. Don’t make a deal with anyone who is more focused on meeting sales quotas than making customers happy.

How to Find a Roofer

Unless they’ve done it before, most people don’t know a lot about how to find a roofer. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s important to educate yourself before you sign anything.

Was this article helpful? If so, bookmark our site for more news and features about a wide range of topics.

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Coming up with a better process for the Overseas citizens of Bangladesh

Coming up with a better process for the Overseas citizens of Bangladesh

Coming up with a better process for the Overseas citizens of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has a giant chunk of its population living and migrating to other countries, which has been the scene for more than half a century. Whether with the promise of a better life or to send money back to Bangladesh to support families, the country receives a lot through its diaspora. In 2015 alone, Bangladesh received about 15.4 billion dollars through their migrant population, from
across the globe.

With 3.2 million Bangladesh migrants in India and 1.2 million of them in Saudi Arabia, the country had to work on improving its travel policies for its diaspora across the globe. To do this, Bangladesh launched their NVR No Visa Required seal and stamp for foreign passports. People who had ties to Bangladesh or connected to the country through their ancestors were allowed access to the NVR seal and could travel back and forth whenever they needed to. Unfortunately, people from the SAARC countries (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) were not allowed to avail of the benefits of the NVR scheme.

When did migrating out of Bangladesh become the fad?

The people from Bangladesh started moving out around the time of the Second World War since there was a shortage of work and jobs in the country. It doesn’t seem like much has changed since a new report, according to the World Bank shows that today an estimated 10 million Bangladeshis are working abroad, primarily as low-skilled labourers in the Arabian Gulf.

Overall, it seems that the only way to thrive in Bangladesh is to leave and work abroad.
Additionally, it is not easy to work abroad, since the process of getting a job for migrants in most parts of the world, is quite challenging, and this cannot be more true of the middle east where a majority of Bangladeshi migrants flock. They don’t even work for high-income jobs, but usually, most of them work toward the bottom of the ladder. These people face regular promises of change, but don’t seem to receive any of them. Any process that involves paperwork is quite challenging, so the Government worked on a one time plan for them to make their way home.

What is the process for getting the NVR stamp on their passports?

This process needs a foreign passport and can be handled either in Bangladesh or through the High Commission offices throughout the world. Furthermore, the application process can be worked on through their office directly or the online website. There are multiple websites like MRP Passport that have been assisting people with documentation to travel back and forth from Bangladesh. The passport website, not only assists with the NVR visa, stamp, or seal but also with the process of applying for a Bangladeshi passport directly. Most people working abroad usually apply for citizenship if they have been there for more than a specific number of years.

Submit all the documents, along with the passport, and if the details mentioned are accurate, the passport is sent back in about ten days with the No Visa Required seal.

Posted in News |