STUDENT VISA DENIALS

We were quite happy to hear that the US embassies in Yangon and Bangkok were again processing student visas.

We were surprised and shocked to learn that one of our clients, after making the long dangerous trek from Mae Sot to Yangon for his interview, was denied. He has a valid I-20 from a Big Ten university.

The reason? The officer issued a 214(b) denial letter, stating that the applicant was unable to prove that his “intended activities in the United States” would be consistent with a student visa. We read this to mean Ambassador Vajda, via his staff, is afraid the young activist might apply for asylum in the U.S. before his student visa expires. Horrors!

This is the “robust support” the US State Department has promised the people of Myanmar? Such hypocrisy.