Guyana, between the 1960s and 1990s, was governed by an authoritarian regime which turned its back on democracy, engineered a precipitous economic collapse, damaged the social fabric and to whose door must be laid the uncontrollable crime wave and widespread shortages of food, medicines and other necessities which enveloped the country. In desperation, a large percentage of the population fled the country going to any country they could, and thousands found themselves in the United States.

Today, though Guyana has become an oil-rich country with the promise of approaching within four to five years the developed world’s social and economic amenities and standards, many Guyanese are still rushing to apply for US visas. So many people are in this movement that there has grown up a new profession of ‘Visa Consultant’ to serve them. These so-called consultants charge enormous fees for filling up visa application forms and almost invariably project themselves as being able to secure visas by falsely claiming they have “contacts” in the US Embassy. These persons are scammers and the US Embassy has taken the time to issue a release exposing their machinations. In this article, we shall keep close to the text of the release for both authenticity and clarity.

The release begins by stating: “There has been an increase in third-party preparers or visa service providers creating fake appointment letters and charging exorbitant fees for visa services people can otherwise do by themselves”.
The Embassy then goes on to advise that correct and up-to-date forms could always be had free at : https://ceac.state. gov/ceac/ and https://www.us-cis.gov/forms/all-forms. Persons are asked to use these official sites for correct and up-to-date forms. The Embassy then gives further information and step-by-step instruction to help applicants through the various processes, and such could be obtained from the website :

https://gy.usembassy.gov/visas/ and https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gy/niv/users/sign_in.
Applicants are alerted that the visa application process is simple, but the “visa application centres” profit by making the visa application process appear complicated.
If the applicant uses the help of a visa consultant, he/she must ensure that no false information is on the form since, in the words of the Embassy,”False information could disqualify you and make you permanently ineligible for a visa. You are responsible for what is on your visa application. For this reason, we encourage applicants to complete their application forms themselves and pay the required visa processing fees at the Embassy.

“If someone else is helping you with your visa application, ensure they give you the login details or confirmation number”.
“You must use your own email address to create an account to manage your visa application and appointment since the Consular Section often sends case status updates to the email you use to register. Using someone else’s email may cause you to miss important updates about your case and cause delays”.
“Keep a copy of your application and confirmation and proof of direct payment of visa processing fees”.

Finally, the Embassy enjoins applicants:”Visa consultants cannot improve your chances of qualifying for a visa and they have no “inside” connection with the Embassy. Your eligibility is determined by a consular officer after a visa interview … Knowing someone at the Embassy will not help you to get a visa since an applicant’s qualifications, as presented in the visa application and at the interview and the US Law are the only bases on which consular officers make visa decisions”.

This urgent effort by people, especially young people, to enter the United States is beginning to lessen as it is gradually being realised that America is no longer “the Land of Opportunity” or “the American Dream” as it was in the 19th and 20th centuries. And also most countries of the Developing World are beginning to provide their citizens with a better life.
In Guyana’s case, within four or five years, social and economic conditions would have advanced to such an extent that Guyanese people would only visit the United States as tourists to see their relatives or friends settled there and to return home as quickly as they can and visa consultants would in due course fade away.