Swapna, a 23-year-old, who had worked in a city-based insurance company for the last few years, was the first to break down at San Francisco airport’s immigration counter. But, what brought out tears was not the six-hour long grilling at the counter but a ‘cleared’ signature the officer put on her visa.
Swapna was only one among a small group of seven students, all bound to Silicon Valley University and Northwestern Polytechnic University, who managed to clear immigration on Christmas even at the San Francisco airport.
As she spoke to The Hindu , the student who flew to California via Emirates, could cite only one reason which worked in her favour at the immigration counter. She had enough funds in her bank account to sustain herself, her studies and stay in San Jose.
“I had ample funds in my account which the officer verified over and over. Besides, I also had a contact, who is a resident of San Jose, who could vouch for me,” she explained. But, the 20 hour long harrowing uncertain flying experience and the pressure she faced at the immigration counter, was too much to bear. “When I walked past the yellow line I felt free,” she said. A male student who had travelled on a different flight too had a similar experience. “Immigration interview was longer than my visa interview,” he said.
Land assets that is registered under his name back home in Hyderabad was the strong point he had to be confident in front of the officers. “I told them I am here to study and will return once my course gets over,” the student who did not want to be name said.
He had flied by Etihad Airlines.
What could have done several students in at the US immigration post could be a trick which some educational travel consultants do to help students get visa. As each of the students, who go for studies need to provide records that they have enough savings in their bank accounts to clear the visa interview, the consultants put close to 15000 USD the money in the candidates accounts for a short duration.
“The money is usually withdrawn soon after visa clearance. And students who reach the US would end up showing much less funds in their bank statements,” a student, who got did not make it through the immigration said.
At the immigration counter, several students were asked to share contact numbers of their US references. The officials had also made calls to recheck and confirm the matter, students said.
Bank balance to decide United States immigration clearance
