My most important goal in Guinea was to help Moussa Fofana get a student visa to come study English in America. Over the past three years a series of unsuccessful attempts had been made to work with the US Embassy in acquiring the visa. It had been decided that the final attempt would be to send me to personally assist Moussa in working with the US Embassy. If I had known how difficult and nearly impossible it was for a West African to get a student visa I doubt I would have agreed.

For our first attempt at getting the visa I made sure we filled out all the paperwork properly and had our interview payment receipt for the EcoBank in hand. We arrived at the embassy and took our place in line. During the three hours we were processed and waited for the interview, I watched as every single applicant was turned down. The average interview time lasted only five minutes. It didn’t take long for me to change my opinion on illegal immigration.

Moussa stands outside the White House. The people being turned away had legitimate reasons for wanting to travel to America. Some of them had family living in the states they had not seen in years and were simply going to visit. Others, including Moussa, were enrolled at universities with host families paying their way and only needed the F1–Student Visa to realize their dream of studying in America. I saw that these people were not even given a chance to make an argument before they were turned away by the interviewers. Quite simply I was embarrassed and ashamed.

Much like the other applicants Moussa was called to the interviewer’s counter. He presented his documents which included a letter for the University of South Carolina, a letter from Moussa’s host family, documentation from the Department of Homeland Security clearing Moussa to enter the states, and even a letter for Congressmen Joe Wilson asking that Moussa be issued a student visa. Just like the other applicants Moussa was turned away in under five minutes. He gathered his documents and began to leave defeated once again.

Moussa eats his final American breakfast with a few friends. I immediately went to the interviewer’s counter and began demanding to know why America believed Moussa was ineligible for the student visa he desirved. I was told Moussa did not meet the requirements to enter America and the interviewer didn’t believe Moussa would return. This was enough to turn any applicant away.

Because Moussa was unmarried, without a distinguished position in the community, and without a large personal wealth, it was clear to the interviewer that Moussa would not return to Guinea after his visa expired. To make matters more difficult, he required an F1–Student Visa which had an almost perfect rate of non–return from its receivers. So much so that the embassy had all but done away with even issuing them in Guinea.

Moussa and Mary Allen find a fallen tree limb across Heyward Street. Though it took an entire month and six angry meetings with the embassy officials, we were able to get Moussa a visa. I also was personally asked not to return to Guinea by the American consul.

Moussa arrived in America on July 28. He returned to Guinea on October 13. He is greatly missed by the countless friends he made in the short time he was at the University of South Carolina.
Moussa in the famous USC Beanbag room.
Moussa visits USC EPI office.
Moussa gets his hair cut.
Moussa visits the National Zoo.
Moussa watches the Blowfish play.