It has been 4 months since I had applied for my visa for the fall semester (August). I was asked to wait for a security clearance from the State Department in Washington.
The consular officer informed me that I would get to know about the clearance in about 3 weeks time! Sigh!
It was comforting then that there were more students like me in India and abroad waiting for the same! I personally know 3 others to the same school and the same department!
When it all began, the process seemed sensible to appreciate. After the 9/11 attacks, allowing visitors without scrutiny appeared sacrilegious. We were all glad that the State Department was taking the necessary steps to nib the bud before it gave way to further reckless lunacy. That too, screening students who were coming there to study courses which were in close proximity to the defense establishments was most welcome.
We are all yet to get the decision of our applications! ‘We’ doesn’t represent the 4 of us alone, but there seems to be thousands more around the world.
Six months for the visa processing meaning apply for it before applying for admission to schools?
Most of us have deferred our attendance to the spring semester (January). Some had to forfeit financial assistance and a few had to give up even their admissions because their universities did not admit students in the spring semester.
We were all shell-shocked to know that students, who applied for the spring semester to the same school and department, have got their visa!
And we are still left in limbo!
If the US is so wary of international students taking up sensitive subjects, why hasn’t it yet closed its gates at the universities to us?
Why does it want to torment us after the pains that we take in preparing for tests, applications, admissions and finally for the visa?
It is understandable that most universities would crumble under economic strains if the foreign students were prohibited from attending classes, considering out-of-state tuition fees is almost five times that of in-state tuition fees!
If I were a terrorist, wouldn’t I be intelligent enough not to take up Aerospace Engineering or Nuclear Engineering or any of the courses that are always under the surveillance of the Intelligence agencies? Isn't it obvious?
Here are a set of links to opinions & facts from students & media either in US (high ranked schools like Cornell, Penn State, Yale) or otherwise: -
http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/3/002009-1613-009.html http://www.mndaily.com/new_site/article.php?id=4170 http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/17/education/17VISA.html?ex=1038373200&en=275d19f7ee0ed052&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=20845 http://www.mid-day.com/news/nation/2002/november/35471.htm http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-mus1117,0,7204316.story?coll=ny-nynews-headlines http://www.thehoya.com/news/111202/news3.cfm http://cornelldailysun.com/articles/6803/ http://www.kaleo.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/11/08/3dcb50196fb7d http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/archives3/nov02/110602/n4.html http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20021110/1045074.asp http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/front/4478664.htm http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/11/07/3dca8c4ad1ade http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021106/main10.htm http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/11/12/3dd07a43e032c http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=20695 http://www.mndaily.com/new_site/article.php?id=3927 http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035774087722&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News&col=968793972154 http://www.cornellsun.com/articles/6613/ http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20021030/topstories/397265.html http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/10/31/nation/shteekeat&sec=nation http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2002/10/10-30-02tdc/10-30-02dnews-01.asp http://cornelldailysun.com/articles/6666/ And check this link for the fiasco that caused it all!
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/10/31/204552.shtml The funniest part is, at the height of their ineptitude, the US Government has the pluck to mock at India's delay in clearing FDI applications!!!
Gimme a break!
Is the International Education Week from Nov. 19th to 22nd some kinda gibe at us?
What nerve!
Reject us on the basis of security concerns! We would understand it!
Languishing visa applicant! :(
URL::