Churches allege US visa rejections

United States, 17th August: Several Church groups in America have alleged discrimination in being granted US visas for their group members.

Some of the groups that have spoken against the US immigration department for not being provided US visas include the Seventh-day Adventists, the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). 

These groups argue that in the period of past one year, nearly 1,000 members belonging to these church groups and hailing from different nations of the world had been unsuccessful to obtain US visas. They required US visas to participate in the meetings and annual conferences organized in the US.

As a result, organizing international Baptist meetings has become quite difficult, global Baptist organization leaders stated during a press conference held on July 28 to mark the start of 20th Baptist World Congress.

People desire to come to the US but they are denied US visas, said general secretary of Falls Church (BWA), Neville Callam, and one cannot do anything. And this is despite the fact that they have paid their registration fees, bought their travel tickets, got their reservations and also have required documents.

There is no specific reason given by the US immigration officials for denial of US visas to the member delegates.

Rev, Susan Davies, United Church of Christ, said that he feels ashamed that US consulates have denied participation in a global ecumenical gathering simply due to the threat of illegal immigration and terrorism.

Meanwhile, due to increased security concerns, US immigration department had been acting cautiously and denying US visas to several migrants from different nations.

The worst affected by US visa denials include Asia and Africa, conferences and meetings director of the BWA, Emmett Dunn said. The US immigration department had denied US visas to all of 87 member delegates hailing from Angola, Dunn added.

And such a high rate of US visa rejections by US immigration department has left a mark on the number of participants seeking registration at the Baptist World Congress to be held this year. According to official sources, the number of registrations has gone down from the expected 10,000 to merely around 4,000.

In the year 2005, around 10,000 member delegates had been registered to take part in Global Baptist Congress held in England (Birmingham).