THE United States of America is a country I have always loved to love, and I do love it and it was and is good to me and many of my relatives and my own family.

When officers representing a nation do reprehensible things, or make poor judgments, they can destroy lives and hopes, be it a business entity, a national consortium or a country, devastation to many could be the result. People wielding certain powers must temper their judgment with wisdom. It is known that many people abuse the facility of a visa to the U.S., but many are good, honourable and positive people that apply for a visa.

In particular I am writing of a serious matter which could destroy the hopes of a very wonderful youth, his ambition and a lifetime of study not only to the individual, but the entire family circle who sacrificed to provide for this youth.  Maybe a similar faith awaits his other colleagues who are due to return soon for new visas.

This brilliant son of Guyana and child of the universe, lover of humanity has persevered to be a medical doctor.  He was always extremely brilliant and has a humane personality and demeanor.  He could have gone to Cuba and studied for free, with a guaranteed job in the U.S. But I, his beloved uncle, decided that I will help o finance him, with other near relatives who know of his brilliance and his great ambition.  This decision was taken simply because the U.S. Medical Degree is more recognised internationally, and because I know of the U.S. standards in medicine.

I also believe that if it is that the necessary facilities is not there to provide visas for students studying at offshore medical schools, then the Government of the United States should consider closing such institutions down, regardless of the benefits to the economy of the United States, and the ability to provide Medical Officers to the United States, and to home countries of applicants. Tremendous monies are spent annually by students studying at offshore medical schools, which benefit the economy of the United States of America.

Now that the visa has been refused for the wonderful human being after hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars was spent on the education of this young man, and now that he needs the final visa for his USMLE (US Medical Legal Examination), which is booked and paid for, officers of the Visa Department of the United States of America in Guyana have refused a visa for the second time in less than two weeks.  To me this is inhuman, considering that the appeal facility is now withdrawn and one has to pay for another appointment.  Strangely they think the youth will abscond.  Nothing else matters sadly to them.

He got three visas previously for what is called Prep and some serious Medical Rotations that are U.S. standards and for the exam as well, tedious and intense studies which only a medical student or doctor can understand.  He also had a visa when he was a child, yet he never thought of absconding.  Absconding for what, a life of misery and pain, living illegally in a nation that has its own problems at this juncture?  When he is so brilliant? Yes, three visas, and he with approval and arrangement of the Medical School returned all three times before expiry of his visa, never thinking of extending it in the U.S., so as not to make it seem a convenience but to comply with laws and procedures.  He was asked why he did not write the exam previously, and he told them the absolute truth, which is: “The school thought it wise to delay the major exam (USMLE) for more preparation,” for they wanted him and the others to pass the first time, plus there were new developments in the medical field which had to be incorporated in the studies.  Medicine always evolve, which is why doctors always have to study.

It is known that studying medicine in any American Institution is probably the most expensive in the world.  His grandparents, his uncles and aunts pitched in, and my wife and I made a large contribution to the expense of providing housing, vehicular transport, insurance and medical fees.  Even our young children, his nieces and nephews threw in their meager savings as a gift to him in love.  Some people cannot understand this.  His grandmother sold her house left by her late husband, knowing that one day he will return the favour if she lives, or merely for the joys of helping her grandson succeed.  We of the Indian Diaspora are like this when it comes to our children. We try to keep them debt free in most cases to help prepare them for life.  Only those who know of medicine would understand what it is like studying it.  To my opinion it is the toughest and harshest of disciplines to study at this time, and now when a person’s time for the major exams is arriving after a lifetime of preparation and sacrifices, and nearly four years of expensive intensive studies which make the brains ache, this kind of heart-aching, heart-rending visa refusal is given.  Imagine what this does to the student preparing for the exams.  It is inhuman and very unfair.  Very, very wrong!

Imagine for a year and half paying for a quality and expensive flat in the U.S., in a study-friendly environment, acquiring all the books, which costs are prohibitive but necessary, acquiring the clothes for the various seasons, transport facility, insurance for same, and then being denied entry at the moment when it is most necessary.  This is most unjust.  All we wished and so did he, is just even one month to prepare and write the exam.

Did I err in not letting him go to Cuba?  I did, did I not?  This is so embarrassing, so humiliating, so belittling.

I appeal to the mighty wisdom of the collective minds of the founders of the United States, that I love and cherish, and the minds of the leaders of the United States, the Hon. Mrs. Clinton, Secretary of State, the Hon. Ambassador of the United States, the Consular Officer of the United States, and the visa counsellors of the U.S. Embassy of the United States of America, please revise this decision and correct a great inhumanity that is being done to a great human being, who will one day make and leave a great legacy in the world- footprints in the sands of time, footprints which will benefit mankind.

He was also a student of Queens College, Georgetown Guyana.

With tears of sadness and pains in my heart, I make this public appeal.  But I am sadder that I had to do this.  I feel belittled, but what is to be will be.

I will always love the United States of America.
ROSHAN KHAN