This is a visitor's comment on a story published on this portal about some new procedures students are now required to follow to secure their visas at the American Embassy. One must think carefully before applying for a visa to go and work abroad. These entry clearance officers thinks most Africans are so desperate to travel abroad for a better living, so they find their way to refuse applicants and use the money to pay child and unemployment benefit for their people. Remember your visa fee is non-refundable. Walk to the British high commission and the US embassy and count the number of people applying for a visa to travel abroad. If all these applicants put their money in their savings account for their unborn child, it will yield a better interest for their child to enjoy as unemployment benefit. Applying for a VISA Fill out the application form and support it with all relevant documents (bank statements, sponsor letter, proof of address where you will stay, certificates, letter from your employer if your travel is for a visit, enrolment letter from your place of study if applying as a student) make sure all documents are original and NOT forgery, and pay the appropriate visa fee. Submit your application for an entry clearance officer to take a decision. A decision has to be taken on your application. You have applied for an entry clearance to travel to the UK/USA as a visitor/student. You provided evidence of your finance in a form of a bank statement. After a careful analysis, I do NOT think you can stay in the UK/USA without working or recourse to public funds. I therefore refuse your application. Consider this; can you pay $20,000 or £10,000 for your studies? This excludes living expenses. So you are looking around £15,000 or more to study for one year in the UK and $30,000 in the USA without taking a full time job. In the UK, you are allowed to work 20 hours per week during term times and full time during vacations. Your weekly wages will be around £90. Rent per month is £300. I will not mention any utility bills here. Let’s say you will need £50 for your weekly groceries. I hope you can understand my calculations now? Will your sponsor pay the full tuition fees as stated in his/her letter? Will you leave the UK/USA on completion of your studies? Will you comply with immigration rules? Did the bank statement you provided have sufficient money to prove your sponsor can really support you any time during your stay? If you have answered yes to all the questions, Oh hold on, I dont think you will submit a bank statement that will show you can't pay your fees. Why did the visa issuing officer refuse your application on the grounds that, you can’t stay without working or recourse to public funds? I will continue from here.... If you have answered no to some or all of the questions but you were granted the visa, you will definitely break immigration law. But who cares? It is the situation that will force you to do that. You must work to survive. The risk here is very high, because your immigration status doesn't allow you to do that.