The First Wave: Science Without Borders Students Come to the Consulate

São Paulo | December 2011

Science Without Borders program students at U.S. Consulate in SP

On December 19 and 20, the first ripples of what will be a gigantic educational surge reached the steps of the Consulate as the first students in the Science Without Borders program arrived to obtain their  visas.  In response to President Dilma Rousseff’s push to send tens of thousands more Brazilian students abroad, the Consular and Public Affairs sections of the Consulate combined to provide special orientations and visa assistance to the 250 students who were applying in Sao Paulo.  In preparation for their January take-offs to the far corners of the United States, the students received a pre-departure orientation by Mission Brazil partners CAPES, the Fulbright Association, EducationUSA and Associação Alumni.  

Consul General Bill Popp welcomed the students, underscoring the interest of the United States in promoting international study and Vice Consul Jessup Taylor walked them through the visa procedures they would follow later in the day.  CAPES, Fulbright and EducationUSA briefed them on their travel and study programs, and provided the necessary documents.  After a brief lunch provided by the Public Affairs Section, the students were bused over to the Consulate where they were escorted through security and received expeditious visa processing.  Internet portal UOL, TV Bandeirantes and TV Globo were on hand to record and interview Sao Paulo’s first students to take advantage of the Science Without Borders program.