US Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C. Crocker on Friday said that issuance of student visas to Pakistanis has been almost 20 percent over the same period last year and number of Pakistani students in US has been increased.
In an article, the American ambassador said, the doors of American universities are wide open to Pakistanis, and that visas to go there and study are available, despite what may have heard to the contrary.
He said the US Embassy in Pakistan has taken a number of steps to ensure that the student visa process is as effective and efficient as possible.
The ambassador said first of all, student visa applicants do not require an appointment. Secondly, the Embassy has improved its processing and most student visas are issued within six weeks, and often much sooner. Finally, the Embassy has engaged in numerous activities to promote studying in the US including education fairs throughout the country.
He said serious students, who have done their homework on selecting a US university, and who follow the visa application procedures set out on Embassy website, have every reason to expect that they will receive a visa.
American ambassador said in order to support Pakistanis studying in the US governments have recently increased -funding for the Pakistan-US Student Fulbright Program, giving it a budget of over $30 million a year, making it the largest Fulbright program in the world in terms of funding.
He said over the next five years, "we will spend dollar 157 million to enable talented young Pakistanis to pursue MA and Ph.D programs at US universities at no expense to themselves." The American ambassador said, "The US universities want you, not just because you are bright and well prepared, but because they value the diversity you bring to their campuses.
He said, "The America not only possesses the most prestigious colleges and universities, but also the most diverse population of students from literally every country in the world." There are more than 600,000 foreign students in America, representing every nation, faith, and ethnic group, he added.
The American ambassador said over the decades, tens of thousands of Pakistanis have studied in the United States. More than 7,000 are studying there now and added that when they return, students are not only equipped with the best education in the world, but a unique understanding of how to excel in an increasingly globalized world.
In addition, he said, these young people have served as informal ambassadors, sharing their cultural heritage and representing Pakistan wherever they go.
The ambassador strongly recommend to seek out the help of the US Education Foundation of Pakistan's (USEFP) educational advising centers, where the students can get advice on the whole search and application process.
He said such expert help is now available free of charge.
The ambassador said, "Once you are accepted at a University, applying for a student visa is the final step. You should be as prepared and organised as possible. By following the guidelines posted on the US Embassy website, qualified students will find obtaining a student visa to be a straightforward matter."
He said the American Embassy in Pakistan is committed to fostering even greater ties between Pakistan and the US through education and cultural exchanges.
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