Premika Visiting The USA

We hoped it would be relatively straightforward. We were wrong.

Initially we thought we would have Premika attend the summer session in New Haven and see how it went before applying for a three-year M.Div. program.  We did not think that a student visa would be practical until Premika got accepted for the much broader M.Div. program which generally lasts three years.

The vast majority of tourist visa applications are rejected as the assumption is made that applicants the age of Premika are not coming back. The cost of the application is $160.

The US Travel Docs website says:  ...a non-refundable, non-transferable visa application fee, sometimes referred to as the MRV fee, before applying for a nonimmigrant visa. The visa application fee must be paid whether a visa is issued or not.

Even with a thick dossier of support, a formal written invitation, letters of recommendation, and a personal visit to the embassy by TheoEco’s Steve Richards and the Anglican Church’s Reverend Lama, the embassy turned Premika down flat in May of 2018

With immigrant status is assumption unfortunately, for young people without a lot of money, that they will not return to Nepal.

This time with an immigration attorney in New Haven and others we know can help carry the day.

Premika has never ventured outside Nepal and New Haven is going to be a big difference so having both she and YDS could use some “getting to know each other” and the short summer session is ideal.

We did not think that a student visa would be practical until Premika got accepted for the much broader M.Div. program which generally lasts three years.

Premika to YDS - Trailer from TheoEco Institute on Vimeo.