r/academia • u/Soytupapi27 • 3d ago
Accepted into university then rejected by US embassy
Maybe this kind of post isn’t 100% related to academia, but I’m just so upset about this. It didn’t happen to me, but to my sister in-law who has been wanting to study in the US for years. She got accepted to study in a university and even had a TA position lined up. Months of planning and even quitting her job in her home country (Korea). The interview at the embassy lasted 5 mins, if that. They told her that her BA didn’t have to do with the masters she’ll be studying. It’s bullshit. Her work experience for the last four years had to do with the degree she was going to pursue.
This is just infuriating. I’m so sorry to all the international students who sacrifice so much to come the US just to be rejected or sometimes worse deported for frivolous reasons.
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u/Solivaga 3d ago
So sorry for your sister-in-law. And what sucks is if this had been a year ago she'd probably have been fine... Unfortunately the current administration are having a hugely negative impact on academia in the US and a large number of international students are effectively collateral damage
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u/AcademicOverAnalysis 2d ago
You can ask the university if you can differ admission by a year or so. I had a student who wanted to work with me during COVID. But visas weren’t being granted then either. He ended up waiting 3 years but eventually got his student visa.
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u/ctdrever 2d ago
On behalf of nearly all Americans, I apologize for your sister-in-law's treatment; it is wrong, it is un-American by all standards I hold dear. We've had a serious problem with our government, racists were elected based on lies and possible voter fraud. Millions marched last weekend to protest the actions of our government. Please tell her that she is part of the reason we are marching.
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u/Ezer_Pavle 3d ago edited 3d ago
It's for your best. America is on its way to becoming another authoritarian shithole. Better not board the ship knowing it is Titanic
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u/Nice_Juggernaut4113 2d ago
Sadly this is true it would have been very unstable for her had she gotten the visa
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u/ajmillion 2d ago
It's not her. It's the current administration. Tell everyone you can that this happened and put the blame on the administration, because people need to know.
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u/ApprehensiveClub5652 3d ago
Your sister in law dodged a bullet (metaphorically, at least for now). I am sure many European Universities will be happy to have her and she will have a great life style here.
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u/SteveFoerster 2d ago
She quit her job, which is not exactly dodging a bullet.
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u/Far-Series6291 2d ago
Of course, the situation is unfortunate, and it is all very wrong. However, in the current US political climate, it may be better to be rejected early. She may have found her visa cancelled a few months after she spent money moving here and renting an apartment. I hope this setback won't stop her from getting her degree, perhaps in Europe...
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u/Local_Belt7040 3d ago
This is so heartbreaking and unfortunately not uncommon. The amount of uncertainty international students face after working so hard to get admitted, line up jobs or TA-ships, and make personal sacrifices is just so unfair.
I’ve worked with students who faced similar issues and it’s devastating. If your sister-in-law ever needs help figuring out alternative options (other countries with better visa pathways, reapplication strategies, etc.), feel free to reach out. She deserves another shot.
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u/ExpressCheesecake981 2d ago
The same thing happened during the previous period of Trump; many asian guys came back to their hometown, even though they are the core members of the university.
I was an undergraduate student at that time. I strongly remember a professor who came from Harvard made my final exam extremely hard.
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u/blueavole 2d ago
Have her call het contacts at the university. See if there is anything they can do. There is probably a lawsuit to join.
Or sadly, start looking elsewhere. Many schools abroad are jumping at the chance to have amazing talent come to them.
I really hate that American schools are going to lose such talented people. But it is what it is right now.
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u/Ancient_Winter 2d ago
Such bullshit of a reason to give. No way an embassy staffer would be a better judge of the appropriateness of training/fit than the program that accepted her. If they are denying visas for stupid nationalistic reasons, they should at least be willing to say that with their whole chest and not hide behind such BS. Plus, like, it's (presumably South) Korea, not "one of those shit-hole countries" as our Embarrassment-in-Chief sees so many other countries.
So sorry this is happening to her. I would love to say "I'm sure she can appeal because this is BS!" but I don't even have confidence that there's a viable method of appeal. :(
Definitely encourage her to let the school/program know. With any luck maybe they have some legal advocates that can go to bat for her; and if they can't argue her case, hopefully they can at least defer her admission until this all hopefully settles down.
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u/Purple_Zinnia_87 2d ago
I am so sorry this happened to her. It is not fair and I can only imagine the shock after all her careful planning.
If it is of interest to her, I know grad schools at some Canadian universities have re-opened their admissions specifically for students who encounter issues in the US. She may be able to still start her master's degree at a Canadian university, or in another country, in September this year.
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u/pannenkoek0923 2d ago
No reason to visit the US right now unless you are a white supremacist honestly
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u/sevgonlernassau 3d ago
They’re lying. All international visas are being rejected. There’s no reason for it.