Every year, over thousand Gambians apply for various categories of visas at the United States of America Embassy along Kairaba Avenue.
According to report gathered by The Voice, majority of the applicants applying for tourist and student visa are randomly and unfairly denials by the U.S Consular at the US Embassy in Banjul.
Some even related it to an extension of US President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant policies.
Responding to the allegations raised by visa applicants rejected, Public Affairs Officer Kathryn Edward U.S. Embassy The Gambia said: “All consular sections, including the U.S. Embassy in The Gambia reviews every case individually and strictly follows U.S. immigration law to take multiple factors into account when making decisions on visa applications”.
“The common misconception, that documentation is considered in a tourist visa application is false, revealing that often applicants bring in invitations, assurances, bank statements, and other documents that are not part of the visa application process,” she added.
She revealed that, there are only three documents required to apply for a tourist visa, namely a passport, an appointment confirmation, and a receipt, stressing that besides these documents no other documents are required.
“If, during the interview, the Consular Officer decides that they need to see specific documentation, the applicant will be given time to produce it. There are additional documents that are required for student visas and those are clearly spelled out during the student visa application process,” She point out.
She refuted allegations that the US Consular was only interested in taking the hard-earned visa fees of the applicants and arbitrarily rejecting them without any plausible basis.
“The $160 application fee is what the U.S. Government has determined to covers these expenses. This fee is the same no matter which country you are from and no matter in which country you apply for a U.S. visa. Our Consular staffs take great care to facilitate legitimate travel. U.S. immigration law is very strict and not all applicants will qualify for a US visa,” she outlined.”
Kaddy Manjang, a grandmother and rejected visa applicant from Gunjur village, Kombo South noted that the Consular unfairly and arbitrarily denied her visa.
“I was invited by one of my sons in America for me to visit and see my grandson for the first time. I was only asked about my mission to the US. And, before I could finish explaining my reason for visiting the US, I was rudely handed a white visa rejection letter. I felt so bad about my rejections because I felt like I had wasted a lot of my son’s money and also traumatized my family,” she noted.
According to Mrs. Manjang, all her documents for a tourist visa application were correct, but quick to says that US Consular’s decision to reject her was based on that they think she will not return after visiting the US, and she described that thinking baseless and in bad faith.
“Why would a grandmother like me overstay in foreign land leaving my big family behind. I have no plan to overstay in America. The only reason I wanted to visit is to see my grandson because since he was born, I never set my eyes on him,” she remarked.
Alhassan Darboe, US based Real Estate business man and son of Kaddy Manjang said, he find it unfathomable, discriminative and, downright absurd that, the U.S Consulate in Banjul would deny his middle-aged mother a tourist visa to visit her sons and grandson she has never met because they didn’t think she had enough ties to The Gambia.
Boucarry Manneh, another victim of Visa rejection at the US Embassy in Banjul said he was invited by his brother to attend his graduation ceremony in the US.
He further said his brother send him all the documents, but he was rejected, saying that he felt so bad because he squandered an opportunity to meet him after such a long space.
Manneh criticized the arbitrary rejection of his visa application by the Consular without going through his supporting documents.
“I felt sad and disappointed with the decision of the Consular because to me, she took no time to look at my documents. I was regretful about my rejection because beside my application fees I used lot of money in running this process,” he said.
Ebrima Darboe, an accountant and a top manager has a similar tale to tell. He said: “I was dumbfounded when the Consular rejected my visa application. I thought I got all the right papers that could guarantee me to secure a visa and as well give me the chance to witness my brother’s graduation ceremony.
I was denied outright without any look at my job, social or economic status. It was a missed opportunity” Mr. Darboe lamented.