Say it ain't so, Mike! Michael Sestak, the former NIV (Non-Immigrant Visa) chief in the US Consulate General in HCMC, got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. To paraphrase a verse from the The Good Book: greed and arrogance goeth before a fall. Apparently, his generous foreign service officer salary and the various goodies that … Continue reading Corruption Sans Borders: U.S. Visas for Sale in Ho Chi Minh City
visa policy
Not What They Signed Up For
"The bittersweet fact is that America exports some of the world's best and worst higher education." (MAA) When Albert Anarwat applied to the for-profit Aristotle University, in California, the Ghanaian student said he asked the university if the institution was accredited. Not only was he told yes, he said, but he also was told that … Continue reading Not What They Signed Up For
The US Student Visa: It’s Not Rocket Science!
This is a slightly expanded version of a short article I wrote for Capstone Vietnam's StudyUSA Higher Education and Community College Fair Guides and for publication on a news website. For those of you whose dream it is to study in the USA but who worry about the visa process, worry no more! The truth is that US consular … Continue reading The US Student Visa: It’s Not Rocket Science!
Ten Most Popular Posts of 2012
It’s that time of year again. First, I would like to wish you, dear reader, a New Year filled with happiness, good health, peace and prosperity. Secondly, I hope that you’ve been found something on these pages – bits and pieces of useful information, an insight, an idea - that is some benefit to you. People visit … Continue reading Ten Most Popular Posts of 2012
In Celebration of International Education Week (IEW)
Given the focus of this blog, I thought it was only fitting that I devote a few posts to International Education Week (IEW), "an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to … Continue reading In Celebration of International Education Week (IEW)
Oops!… They Did It Again
Last year around this time, I wrote about Jose Maria Vargas University (JMVU), a nationally accredited (NA) school based in Florida, which was permitted to join the Institute of International Education's (IIE) US higher education fairs in Vietnam. This in spite of the fact IIE guidelines state that “Only regionally accredited (RA) two-year, four-year and … Continue reading Oops!… They Did It Again
To Emigrate or Not to Emigrate, That is The Question (With Apologies to Mr. Shakespeare)
I recently received an email from a Vietnamese student (I’ll call her “Hoa”) who just earned her bachelor’s degree in the US. Hers is the story of many young Vietnamese who study overseas, which is why I want to share it with you. I’ve changed the names to protect the innocent. 🙂 Hoa writes: I … Continue reading To Emigrate or Not to Emigrate, That is The Question (With Apologies to Mr. Shakespeare)
“Patent Pending: How Immigrants Are Reinventing The American Economy”
While this is not exactly breaking news, I am pleased to see how this trend is being documented in order to build an even stronger case for visa policy reform. It's an issue that unites key business and political leaders, including President Obama, as well as professional associations such as NAFSA: Association of International Educators. This report, issued by The Partnership for a … Continue reading “Patent Pending: How Immigrants Are Reinventing The American Economy”
Nonimmigrant Visas Issued By the US Mission in Vietnam
In keeping with my recent theme of visas, here's some information about nonimmigrant visas issued over a 15-year period. From 1995, the year the US normalized diplomatic relations with Vietnam, to 2010, the US Mission issued a total of 318,335 nonimmigrant visas, including student visas. The Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), which … Continue reading Nonimmigrant Visas Issued By the US Mission in Vietnam
Vietnam is a “Top Ten” Country in Another Category
As promised, this is a follow-up to my 23 April post entitled Adjusted Refusal Rate – B Visas Only (Fiscal Year 2011). Vietnam ranks 8th among all "sending countries" (i.e., places of origin) with over 18,500 young people studying at all levels of the US educational system according to the latest US Department of Homeland Security update. It ranks … Continue reading Vietnam is a “Top Ten” Country in Another Category
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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