Latest update April 1st, 2025 5:37 PM
Refusal of a Student Visa: Is this a case of stigmatising?
DEAR EDITOR,
Akil Johnson is a 20-year-old young man who attended Queen’s College for the first five years of his secondary education and then completed the last two years at The Bishops’ High School where he prepared himself to pursue studies in law. After completing his secondary education, he applied at the University of Guyana where he was accepted and was reading for his law degree when he was offered a sports scholarship at Brevard College. He decided to accept the offer and therefore applied for and received a visitor visa which enabled him to visit the College.
Akil Johnson and two other boys were granted scholarships from Brevard College in 2017. The other boys were given the opportunity to return to the Embassy at another set interview appointment when they did not have the required documentation to support their case in their possession. They subsequently were granted their student visas.
Akil, however, was denied his student visa and had his visitor visa revoked on 17 August 2017 because the Consular Officer said that it was his belief that Akil did not intend to go to school, but instead planned to commit criminal activities based on his travel patterns.
Akil had returned to Guyana after his acceptance at the College. However on his return to the United States to await the additional documentation to complete the enrollment process, the College advised that it would be better to apply for the visa in his homeland. Hence the Consular Officer saw his travel pattern and asked who had funded the trips. Akil advised the relevant official that his mother had funded his trips, since he was a student and not employed.
His mother is an employee of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat for the past 29 years and has been his main support since her husband (his father) passed away in 2005.
Akil, equipped with additional documentation, re-applied for the student visa and was given an interview date of January 10. He was denied for the second time and found ineligible for a Non-Immigrant visa under Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. The Act further states that Akil did not demonstrate that he had ties within his home country that would compel him to return after studies in the United States. Akil resides with his mom and his two younger siblings. Akil’s goal is to return home after his studies to join his uncle at his law firm (Fraser, Housty & Yearwood).
All the necessary documents were submitted to support the request to complete his studies.
The question being asked: is there a level playing field when one passes those gates in Young Street? What were the criteria used to grant two student visas to study the same programme and deny one. Is this a case of stigmatising?
Maureen Ann
(Aunt)
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