Sorena

I just got off the phone with my Nigerian friend. The consequences of the Visa ban imposed under President Trump are far more reaching than I initially thought. In total, 75 countries are facing some ban of some shape or form with 19 full ban. Out of the 75, 25 are African countries of which Nigeria is one. Now my friend just finished his PhD and under the “normal” dispensation could apply for optional practical training (OPT) and get it approved within 3 months which allow him to stay and work for 1 year and could be extended for additional 2 years because he is in a stem field. Under the current visa ban, he cannot get his OPT processed within 3 months. He is on an indefinite wait and without the OPT, he cannot work. So he either leaves the country and forfeit the OPT or stay without job. That’s the hardest point you can be in the US where you don’t get a pause on bills or a friend or family to borrow money to hold body. And just thinking through this, I find that many internationals may be in a similar or worse situation. For medical doctors who came on J1 or H1B, you’re expected to transition into permanent residency after your training. J1 and H1B only commits you to your facility of training for the period of the training especially for the J1. Now after 3 years in residency, if you’re from an affected country, you cannot be processed for any other immigration benefits. The is worse because if you did not start the permanent residency application and gotten the first part approved before the executive order, there is no where to turn; not even the indefinite wait. So you will have to leave the US within 60 days on completing your residency This is such a tragedy for everyone including some of the US industries such as the healthcare sector that will be losing thousands of the US trained physicians. I see most of these physicians moving to Canada, Australia or New Zealand where they would not be required to take further testing before practicing. But that in itself will take them months if not years to apply for appropriate immigration benefits. To what end….?

بنظرم فروپاشی از اون چیزی که بنظر میرسه نزدیک تره. این وسط جامعه ما مدت هاست از هر نوع ایدئولوژی عبور کرده. تنها راهی که شاید بتونه یه بخش خوبی از مردم رو متحد کنه و کشور رو حفظ کنه باور به هویت ملیه.