Ambedkar Action Alert: Fwd: PAAIA to Organize Town Hall Meetings with the Department of State

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Fwd: PAAIA to Organize Town Hall Meetings with the Department of State

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: PAAIA <info@paaia.org>
Date: Fri, May 27, 2011 at 11:40 PM
Subject: PAAIA to Organize Town Hall Meetings with the Department of State
To: palashbiswaskl@gmail.com

PAAIA to Organize Town Hall Meetings with the Department of State Thanks Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for Changes to Visa Validity for Iranian Students

May 25, 2011, Washington, D.C. – In an effort to further educate the Iranian American community about the new visa policy for Iranian students, the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) is collaborating with the Department of State to facilitate Town Hall meetings around the country. The meetings will be open to the Iranian American community at large. The first meeting will be held in Washington, D.C. on June 23rd. Further details on the location and venue will be provided in the near future.

In the meantime, PAAIA has sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton thanking the Obama Administration for their decision to lift the single-entry visa policy for Iranian students.

Last week, Secretary Clinton announced that Iranian students and exchange visitors have become eligible for two-year, multiple entry visas. Under the old visa policy, Iranian students and individuals enrolled in academic or professional exchange programs were eligible for visas that were valid for three months and allowed single-entry into the United States. The new guidelines apply to Iranians and their dependents applying to study in "non-sensitive and non-technical fields." Students will now have the opportunity to return home for family visits or attend academic conferences abroad without having to renew their visa every time they leave the United States.

In its letter to Secretary Clinton, PAAIA expressed its deep appreciation for the Administration's recognition of Iranian Americans who wanted this change and their commitment to support the aspirations and rights of Iranian students.

Click here to contact Secretary Clinton and thank her for supporting more dialogue and exchanges with Iranian students.

For more information on changes to Visa Validity for Iranian students, please click here.

To read the Q&A with Vali Nasr on the Obama Administration's Decision to Change Visa Policy for Iranian Students, click here.