Two Indian athletes from Kashmir denied US visa

[JaDed]

SRINAGAR: Two snowshoers from Kashmir have alleged they have been denied visa to the US due to "current (US) policy".

"Indian Snowshoers Denied Visas, due to 'current (US) policy'. This from our good friend Abid Khan, from Kashmir, minutes ago in our Facebook Messaging," Clyde Rabideau, Mayor of the Village of Saranac Lake in New York, wrote on his Facebook page.

The snowshoers reportedly denied visas are Abid Khan and Tanveer Hussain. They were supposed to take part in the 2017 World Snowshoe Championships in New York from February 24-25.

According to the conversation posted by Rabideau on his page, Khan informed him about the denial of the visa.
"Sorry sir, Visa denied," Khan wrote to the Mayor, a Democrat.
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Khan claimed all the paperwork for both the athletes was in order including "local Government sponsorship, federation, your support letter, my financial background. They did not missed (sic) any supporting document."
"The lady officer at US embassy in New Delhi after checking all docs (sic), just went inside into another room. After returning she said 'Sorry, due to our current policy we cant issue you visa'," Khan said.
Top Comment

Rabideau, while promising help with the visa, said "this will not stand".
The athletes could not be contacted for comments.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/two-indian-athletes-from-kashmir-denied-us-visa/articleshow/56894982.cms

 

[Syed1]

2017 World Snowshoe Championships

 

[Varun]

Sounds like a routine denial. You either get approved or denied, and these two were denied.

It only made the news because of the recent Trump mandate. Which doesn't have anything to do with these two anyway.

 

[JaDed]

Sounds like a routine denial. You either get approved or denied, and these two were denied.

It only made the news because of the recent Trump mandate. Which doesn't have anything to do with these two anyway.

Khan claimed all the paperwork for both the athletes was in order including "local Government sponsorship, federation, your support letter, my financial background. They did not missed (sic) any supporting document." "The lady officer at US embassy in New Delhi after checking all docs (sic), just went inside into another room. After returning she said 'Sorry, due to our current policy we cant issue you visa'," Khan said. Top Comment

Not sure that is a valid reason.

 

[Varun]

Not sure that is a valid reason.

That could have happened yesterday or last year even, complete with the very same response by the visa officer.

So many people have everything required at hand but lose out because of what is essentially a subjective decision when the time comes.

 

[pillionrider]

If I were with immigration, I'd be suspicious of couple of dudes from halfway around the globe wanting to participate in a vague sporting event that even Google won't educate one about. I would go one step further and believe their intentions involved some overstaying. So maybe I'm being a little extreme with these thoughts, so let's look at basic facts. Someone was denied visa. So what? Happens so often, not least in sport. I've had relatives who couldn't get tourist visas to visit the US on multiple occasions. Bu they weren't Muslim, so no one cared.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

If I were with immigration, I'd be suspicious of couple of dudes from halfway around the globe wanting to participate in a vague sporting event that even Google won't educate one about. I would go one step further and believe their intentions involved some overstaying. So maybe I'm being a little extreme with these thoughts, so let's look at basic facts. Someone was denied visa. So what? Happens so often, not least in sport. I've had relatives who couldn't get tourist visas to visit the US on multiple occasions. Bu they weren't Muslim, so no one cared.

You are right, in the UK we have many illegal immigrants from India who come here on student visas then disappear once their education is finished. All immigrants from that part of the world should be treated with high suspicion.

 

[pillionrider]

You are right, in the UK we have many illegal immigrants from India who come here on student visas then disappear once their education is finished. All immigrants from that part of the world should be treated with high suspicion.

Not sure about the validity of your assertion but I'll take it as the voice of experience talking. So Yes. You're right.

Good to see you being sensible about this.

 

[Tera Gawaandi]

You are right, in the UK we have many illegal immigrants from India who come here on student visas then disappear once their education is finished. All immigrants from that part of the world should be treated with high suspicion.

UK is not even a favorite destination for Indian students anymore, I know some students who got their Canada/Australia student visa in 5 days. 17 and 12 percentage of 'total' international student were Indians in Canada and Australia last year. Some 1,50,000 Indian students are studying in USA. 31% jump on YoY basis.

Visa officer just read their Muslim names and denied visa in this case.

 

[Eye_Done]

May be US considers Kashmir part of Pakistan thats why they were denied?