Azadeh has been in the U.S. for 3 years as a PhD student at the University of Maryland, during which time she hasn’t been able to see her family back in Iran.
Up until recently, Iranian students could only receive a single-entry visa, which meant their visa would allow them to enter the country one time only. If they left, they would have to reapply for a new visa.
“It’s been very tough for me,” she says. Throughout most of our previous conversation about applying to the U.S. and getting her visa she has been giggly and upbeat, but when we turn to this topic, it’s clear it hits home for her.
I know some people that changed their mind about coming to the U.S. just because of the visa issue. They never could imagine that they couldn’t come back even if something happened.
Azadeh tells me her parents have thought about coming to visit her in the U.S., but the family member she’s closest with is her sister, and it’s likely her sister would be refused the travel visa to come over.
If I cannot see her it doesn’t work for me. And she cannot come with my parents. There is a very high risk to all of them be refused, rejected getting a visa because of my younger sister that wants to come with them.
I give her a confused look, and Azadeh explains it’s because the visa officer might assume the family is trying to immigrate.
Making the change
The State Department announced in May that Iranian students would now be able to receive multiple-entry visas to study in the U.S. The EducationUSA Iran advisor, who joined Azadeh and I in our discussion about visas, says that after the announcement, EducationUSA received hundreds of emails from grateful Iranians.