I RECEIVED an acceptance letter for admission from Bergen Community College (Paramus, New Jersey) and proceeded for interview at the US embassy, Islamabad.

The consular officer just on the basis of a single observation of I-20 Form issued by Bergen Community College, without considering my other supporting documents, refused me the student visa.

The objection as to why I applied to a community college instead of applying in some other good college/university doesn’t seem to be aligned with the education policy of the government.

The officer further asked me to go and apply to some other college and then apply again for a student visa.

OWING to an unclear policy about US student visa, some misunderstanding has developed between Bergen Community College – Paramus, New Jersey, and the office of the visa consulate in Islamabad for which I may lose my one whole academic year.

On the one hand, after my correspondence and communication for three to four months, the Bergen Community College finally issued me an acceptance letter and directed me to approach the United States consulate for student visas after issuing me I-20 Form.

The consulate, however, has a different view about the community college.

I humbly request the US consulate to take measures to clear the misunderstanding between the community college and the US consulate in Islamabad and save my academic year from being wasted.

AHMAD KAMAL DURRANI Lahore

US scholarships RECENTLY some scholarships were announced for Pakistan by the US. This is surely a huge step to fulfil the wishes of thousands of students living in different and backward areas in all the provinces of Pakistan.

These scholarships bring confidence and give Pakistanis an opportunity to understand as to how countries like the United States function as a society. This will also make them see how they can help contribute to their own society.

I am living in Balochistan, one of the backward provinces of Pakistan, where students lack any guidance in career planning and counselling.

The students of Balochistan need attention in the field of education. I appreciate the scholarship’s initiation.

MEER BAHAD AMEEN Turbat