AROUND 60 Tongan students due to begin studies at Brigham Young University have not been able to secure United States student visas.
Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua told a press conference in Nuku’alofa that this was a result of recent US visa restrictions in tourist and student visa categories.
“I just found out that there are about 60 BYU students who couldn’t get their visas for the next semester because of the current restriction,” he said.
The issue was raised with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau who visited Tonga during a whirlwind Pacific tour last week.
Fakafanua said Landau expressed interest in expanding scholarship opportunities for Tongans but acknowledged that visa settings would first need to be addressed.
Tonga has described the restrictions as a disproportionate response to a small number of visas overstays.
The prime minister said around 13 Tongan students had remained in the US beyond their permitted stay, contributing to heightened scrutiny from immigration authorities.
Further diplomatic engagement is expected from the government in the months ahead, in order for Tonga to remain proactive in resolving the matter to safeguard future travel including educational opportunities for its students
PACNEWS