A startling fact has been revealed about students going
abroad. Due to recent attacks in Paris, Indian students are being denied or
deported back without any fault. Many are calling it a pre-election rhetoric or
post Paris and St Bernardino paranoia.
Although these students had the necessary documents like
valid F-1 student visas issued by US missions in India with the requisite I-20
forms from educational institutions certifying their admission still they were
sent back to home.
Almost 60-70 students have been sent back home which is a
large number despite efforts made by New Delhi. We made a strong request to
Washington in order to honor the visas of students.
This procedure of deporting started after the incident of 2
terrorist attacks in St Bernardino by a Pakistani couple on December 2nd with
Air India was asked to fly back with 14 students (Indian). These students were
going to US to join two blacklisted schools.
They were supposed to join Silicon Valley University (SVU)
in San Jose and Northwestern Polytechnic (NPU) in Fremont and both are stated
to be blacklisted, however they deny this fact.
Not only they denied these allegations but NPU blamed Air
India for this mess which declined to seat US-bound students. Air India claimed
that it was informed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) about the two
schools being blacklisted and under supervision.
Further blaming Air India, NPU suggested that it was not
allowing students to board who wanted to join NPU as it had to fly back (due to
individuals being denied entry).
Due to all these denials, Air India resorted to defensive
mode i.e. they wouldn't bring Indian students unless they commit to pay for
their return if they are denied entry.
Not only these two
schools, but students coming from Chicago or New York to join other reputed
schools were denied entry.
Te US reacted diplomatically at this issue stating that they
are not denying entry on a large scale basis and said that CBP agents decide
each student's case differently.
It was surprising to find that students going abroad didn't
even knew about the courses which they wanted to pursue there. They were not
aware about where they would stay or how they would meet their expenses as they
aren't allowed to work.
It was found that most of the students who were denied
belonged to Andhra Pradesh but it's not only Indian students who are denied
entry, Chinese students were also not allowed assuring any discrimination on
grounds of nationality.
In a posting on NPU's website, its President, Peter Hsieh
said that students joining were allowed entry in US if they had proper
documentation and were able to answer questions. He also wrote that the entry
is not only limited to NPU students but other foreign travelers were also
denied.
Tags: Studies In Us
Indian Students In Us
Education Times
Paris Attack
Silicon Valley University
