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| Tuesday, 23 November 2004 |
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by Manjula Fernando Over 600 applications from prospective students seeking visas reach the US Embassy in Colombo each year out of which only 70 per cent get successful in their dream to study in the US, one of the best and the most expensive places on Earth for higher education. US Visa officer Marc Williams said Sri Lankans must pursue more opportunities to study in the US since over 80 per cent of Visa recipients receive some form of financial support for their university studies. "You'll be surprised how much financial aid is received by Lankan students," Williams told a group of journalists and students at a round table discussion at the American Centre recently. The discussion focused upon clearing delusions linked with student visa procedures. The more honest you are the higher your chances of passing the visa interview. "No matter how unusual your situation and the plans ahead are, be honest and be informative, your answers will be treated as legitimate reasons by our visa officer," the Consul explained. Fraud involving student visas is said to be minimal in Sri Lanka as well as elsewhere. "There are no strict procedures for student visas. We tend to consider all of them as genuine. As long as you have a prompt and a substantive answer regarding your plans in the US, there will not be a problem." The visa officer will focus on identifying three things - whether you are a bona fide student, your financial ability and whether you plan to return after studies. A student with good GCE Advanced Level grades and high SAT or TOEFL grades will therefore find it easy to get through rather than a student with only GCE Ordinary Level results. Williams also said financial support by a relative will be considered passable by the Embassy because in Sri Lankan culture it was usual for a close relative to meet the education costs of a student. International students in the US are allowed to engage in part time work for a limited number of hours a day. The program was organised to mark 2004 US international education week which was celebrated from November 15 to 19. Prospective students and Schools can obtain US study opportunities information from the Student Advising Services at 7, Flower Terrace, Colombo 7. TP. 2564176 or by visiting usembassy.state.gov/srilanka. The embassy also offered to conduct workshops on educational opportunities in the US, in outstation schools which generally have no access to such information. |
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