The article has been automatically translated into English by Google Translate from Russian and has not been edited.

Why Ukrainian women who won scholarships to study are not allowed in the US

'18.09.2018'

Source: Facts

Ukrainian graduates who won grants to study in prestigious American schools were not given an entry visa. Moreover, the US Embassy denied Ukrainians a visa twice. In both cases, the consular officers decided that the girls had “not enough ties with Ukraine,” which means, they say, they might want to stay in the States forever.

Photos: Facts Screenshot

18-year-old Ukrainian women Inna Chernyak and Tanya Torchilo were preparing for more than a year to enter American schools. Both participated in the charity project Ukraine Global Scholars, they write Facts. This organization helps Ukrainian schoolchildren to enter America’s most prestigious educational institutions (such as the Taft School and even Harvard) for free. Of the thousands who wish, representatives of Ukraine Global Scholars choose twenty people, who are then prepared to enter the United States.

To be in this twenty, Inna Chernyak and Tanya Torchilo studied day and night.

Tanya Torchilo is from the village of Staraya Leshnia, Novovolynsky district, Volyn region. She studied in the village until fifth grade, then transferred to a secondary school in the district center. Two years ago, Tanya won at the All-Ukrainian Olympiad in Geography and even went to the International Olympiad.

“Many people think that without connections and good tutors it is impossible to achieve anything, but this is not the case,” says Tanya Torkilo. - For example, I studied myself. From 5-th to 11-th class in total participated in the 56 Olympiads. Twice won the All-Ukrainian Olympiad in Geography, and once even went to the international stage in Japan.

Independently taught English and German. I didn’t even think about what I would do in the USA. But when I found out about the Ukraine Global Scholars charity project, I decided to try my hand. Selection for this program is somewhat similar to admission to American universities - essays, interviews, tests in English and mathematics. Thousands of people from all over the country are really competing there. Both me and my younger brother got into the top twenty finalists.

Tanya tried to enroll directly in 15 American schools. She did not need to go to the States for this: she passed her exams in Kiev, and had interviews via Skype connection.

- My goal was not only to enroll, but also to win a grant, because I could not pay for tuition, - explains Tanya. - Scholarships that fully cover the cost of education and living, American schools rarely give. But I was lucky. I won a grant to study at the prestigious The Gunnery in Connecticut. 146 thousand dollars scholarship that fully covers the cost of tuition, campus and insurance!

Tannin's younger brother also entered - he won a grant to study at the famous Taft school.

“The Taffeta School is a twenty minute drive from The Gunnery,” says Tanya. - Successful completion of such schools would allow us to enter the most prestigious universities of the United States. For example, I dream of getting a higher education at Massachusetts University of Technology - one of the best universities in the world in this area.

Tanya was supposed to leave for study at the end of August. And I could not even think that she would be denied a student visa.

“I was sure that there would be no problems with a visa,” Tanya admits. - I never went to the USA before, there were no problems with border crossing in other countries either. The Gunnery School sent the entire package of necessary documents: confirmation that I entered, won a scholarship and will learn from them. What more proof is needed that I am going to study? The interview at the US Embassy lasted a few minutes. The consular officer asked why I decided to study in this particular school. I honestly replied that I wanted to get a good education and then, perhaps, to enroll in an American university. And when the interview was over, I learned that I was denied a visa.

Photos: Facts Screenshot

We give the arguments of the US Embassy in Ukraine literally:

“One of the main requirements for obtaining different types of non-immigrant visas is evidence that the applicant has a permanent residence in another country (outside the United States) that he does not intend to refuse. Applicants can fulfill this requirement by proving strong ties in their country of residence, which will oblige him to return after a temporary stay in the United States. Some of this evidence is professional activity, employment, training, and family and social ties with a foreign country (outside the US). You have not proved that you have connections that will force you to return from the United States. ”

- It is interesting that my younger brother received a visa, - says Tanya. - His interview at the embassy lasted less than a minute. We live in one family, we have one place of residence, only parents. But for some reason, the consular officers decided that my brother had quite strong ties with Ukraine, but I did not. Where is the logic?

There is one more important point: my contract with Ukraine Global Scholars. As a finalist of this charity program, I entered into an agreement with them that after graduation in the USA I have to work in Ukraine for at least five years. After the American school, I can enroll in an American university. But as soon as I finish it, in any case I will be obliged to return. In Ukraine Global Scholars they say that they have such a first. For three years, none of the participants in the program have ever been denied a US visa. And this year the refusal was received by me and another girl from Kiev - Inna Chernyak.

Inne Chernyak, like Tanya, 18 years. Inna studied at the Lyceum "Naukova Zmіna" in Darnytsa district of Kiev.

Like Tanya Torchilo, she participated in olympiads and won at the All-Ukrainian stage of the competition of the Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Inna entered the well-known private school Cheshire Academy and turned out to be the first foreign entrant in the history of the school who was given a full stipend of 122 thousand dollars.

“After receiving a letter that I was accepted and given a grant covering the costs of education and living, I was crying with happiness,” says Inna Chernyak to “FACTS”. - They said that full scholarship in this school is not provided to foreigners. But they gave it to me. Such a chance falls once in a lifetime.

The interview at the embassy went very quickly. The consular officer talked to me just a couple of minutes. And he gave a refusal with the same formulation as that of Tanya: they say, the connection with Ukraine is not proved. Having been refused, I applied for a visa again. Tanya did the same.

However, the second attempt was not crowned with success - both Inna and Tanya were again refused.

“Although they prepared for the second interview even better than for the first one,” says Inna. - In addition to the required package of documents, this time I brought a contract with Ukraine Global Scholars (obliging me to work in Ukraine for five years), confirmation that all my relatives live in Ukraine, and documents that I am the founder of a public organization in Kiev. But as far as I understood, no one was looking at these documents. The second interview went even faster than the first.

“In my case, the consular officer did not read any documents at all,” recalls Tanya Torchilo. - Saw the first failure - and immediately made the second.

Tanya and Inna for the third time applied for a visa. But they say they no longer know what to expect.

“I am going to the third interview only on September 7,” says Tanya. - And school classes began on 1. I should already be there. In addition, every time you apply for a visa, you pay 160 dollars of consular fees. For example, I already paid 480 dollars. For our family is a lot of money. I do not know what to do if I get a refusal again.

Фото: Depositphotos

- In the schools where you enrolled, know that they do not give you a visa?

“They are shocked by the situation,” says Tanya. - The director of The Gunnery immediately sent a letter stating that they were taking me to study because of my academic achievements and provide a grant. The director wrote that he was interested in a student like me, and even sent letters to senators and congressmen. In Inna, Cheshire Academy did the same. But, as you can see, for now everything is useless.

The schools are waiting for us. Scholarships are registered, they can not give to other students. But we miss school. Prior to this visa situation, I already had time to get acquainted with one of my teachers on the Internet and agree with him about conducting an independent study. Now all plans are crumbling.

Finding out why Tanya Torchilo and Inna Chernyak were denied a visa, "FACTS" asked for comment at the US Embassy in Ukraine. But they refused to tell the details

“Section 222 (f) of the Immigration and Citizenship Act (INA) prohibits us from discussing individual visa matters. But the United States annually welcomes hundreds of new Ukrainian students who come to study in the United States and value partnerships between Americans and Ukrainians in our schools and universities, ”the official fact of the embassy of FACT says.

“The situation is very strange,” said Mikhail Lemesh, founder and curator of the Ukraine Global Scholars project, to “FACT”. “During the three years of our project’s existence, we have helped 35 guys to enter the USA. In total, Ukrainian applicants received grants amounting to about 8 million hryvnia. And there was not a single refusal of a visa. I myself studied in the States in due time and I know that usually the consular officers, learning that a person won a grant to study at an American school or university, congratulate and wish good luck. But in the cases of Tanya Torchilo and Inna Chernyak, it happened otherwise.

- Why do you think? Perhaps it was due to the tightening of migration policy, which is now written by many media?

- It is hard to say. There was no information that the Ukrainians would somehow complicate the process of obtaining visas. In addition, the remaining 16 participants in our project (including Brother Tanya) received visas without problems. Tanya and Inna entered different schools. They are united only by the fact that they both have already turned 18 years. But the fact that 18-year-old applicants enter the American school is not strange - in the USA it is common practice. Moreover, some schools themselves prefer to recruit older students - they are more mature and know exactly what they want.

- Is it true that under the contract, both Tanya and Inna are obliged to return to Ukraine?

- Yes. This condition is prescribed in all contracts with Ukraine Global Scholars. Having been educated in the USA, a participant in our program is required to work in Ukraine for at least five years. Our goal is to help Ukraine by providing it with qualified personnel. And to give children the opportunity to get free quality education in the best schools and universities of the United States.

Tanya Torchilo is a girl from a small village who has achieved everything with her work. For people like her, getting a grant at a prestigious American school is a unique opportunity. And now, for unknown reasons, it may deprive of this chance. How can one believe in justice after this?

We hope that the third time all the arguments will be carefully considered and the consulate will give the girls the opportunity to get the education they dream of.

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