Kyle Cave
Staff Writer
*The student’s name has been changed due to the sensitive content of the story
Higher Education is an institution that many may take for granted. The struggles most faced to get into college ranged from lots of paperwork and choosing what major to focus on. International students — especially African international students — are face a little more difficulty in entering college.
According to Semafor, in 2023, 57 percent of students in African countries were rejected for student visas. ESU has also seen many applicants from this area denied visa applications.
“At the graduate level, and since COVID, ESU has seen the vast majority of applicants, mainly from Africa, have their visas denied,” said Kevin Quintero, the associate director of the graduate and extended studies program at ESU.
Applying for a student visa is a vigorous process, involving the student going through the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services to get their educational credentials examined. Then the student must receive an I20, a form that proves the student can financially support themselves by paying for school, medical insurance, and housing (for one year).
The student must bring bank statements and other financial records as well, while also paying for an application fee so that they may be interviewed by a U.S. official.
Joseph is a Communications graduate student from Accra, Ghana. Joseph received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Ghana in motion picture and photography and currently serves as the head of media at a sports organization.
Accepting his graduate position at ESU started a tiresome, five-month long process for Joseph. The fees began to pile on, $275 for his visa, $400 for his I20, and so on. Trying to secure a spot for the interview was a frustrating and long process, one of the most difficult parts of the entire application.
“I wasn’t really able to sleep and barely ate for a month because I was so stressed about trying to secure a spot for the interview,” said Joseph.
But Joseph isn’t the only student having trouble securing an interview. There are entire WhatsApp and Telegram groups dedicated to hunting down interview dates with U.S. officials.
Joseph was able to secure an interview date for Jan. 2, 2025. The day came and it didn’t go well for him.
Joseph went to the American Embassy where several hundred other students were waiting on getting a visa. He waited in line for hours for his interview, he said, and heard many others getting rejected before it was his turn. He was rejected.
“As a university, we are not provided with information or details as to why students are being denied,” said Quintero. “This leaves us with no way to really help students navigate the process.”
Despite the rejection by American officials, Joseph will try again to get his student visa for the Fall 2025 semester.
“My heart goes out to someone like Joseph,” added Quintero. “Considering the amount of time and money spent on the application process, only to be denied at the final step with no explanation is devastating.”