Consular Officers Educating Students and Parents On U.S.  Student Visas. June 26-27, 2009

NIV Chief Fred Stern and Consular Officer

Pamela Pontius at the Education Seminar on June 26-27, 2009

Non-immigrant Visa Chief Fred Stern and Consular Officer Pamela Pontius addressed students wanting to study in United States at a five-day seminar on education, promotion, awareness opportunities held at Nehru Auditorium in Hyderabad the week of June 22-27.  The seminar was held in association with Education Today, a soon-to-be-launched educational. “The easiest way to get a student visa is to tell the truth,” Consular Officer Pamela Pontius told the students on June 26.  The next day, NIV Chief Fred Stern expanded on the theme, urging students to take on the responsibility of learning the visa rules by reading the Consulate General website instead of relying on agents.   Addressing a gathering of over 200 students, the NIV Chief told the students that they will have a much better chance of having their applications approved if they prepare themselves for the interview by being able to discuss their course of study and their future plans.