Manica and Christopher want to study abroad in the United States so they have access to the level of education and opportunities necessary for them to return to Haiti prepared to lead.

We need your help to make their dreams a reality.

We first met Manica, Christopher and their families while volunteering our time in Haiti for the nonprofits Blue Marble Dreams and Haiti 155 - two of several nonprofits we are involved with that support the educational and economic advancement of youth and women. During our many visits to Port-Au-Prince this close-knit group of families took us into their fold and we became actively involved in the community and these students well-being, including supporting their education as financial sponsors and advocates.

After countless conversations with the students' teachers and the families - the option most favorable to them, and desired by their family, is having Manica and Christopher complete their primary education in the United States.

Once the students and the family decided this was what they wanted - we committed to help them navigate the process and support them however we could to make it happen.

Since we started this journey we've consulted several immigration experts and schools on how best to help Manica and Christopher study in the US. The consensus was that with us as financial sponsors they can study in the United States on F-1 Student Visa’s.

Hundreds of thousands of students from grade school through college are currently studying in the United States on F-1 Visas. In 2013 a total of 534,320 F-1 Visas were issued. Of the total there were 73,019 international secondary students in the U.S. The majority of international secondary students in the U.S. are here to pursue a U.S. high school diploma, with a smaller number engaged in exchange programs. *SEVP July 2014 General Summary Quarterly Review - ICE.

We are attempting to do something that is done many times every year but need your help to be successful.

We met all of the requirements to apply for this visa including, but not limited to, having the students admitted into a private school that is also approved by SEVP (a division of The Department of Homeland Security). Finally, we made sure to meet all the guidelines set out by the Haitian government to allow the students to go to school and live in the U.S.

Despite all of the effort by so many trying to do the right thing each step of the way and following the process as its laid out, in January the students applications were denied.

When we asked the Embassy for a reason for the denial, we were told that there was a “general unwritten policy” of not issuing F-1 Visas in situations like this. After an official inquiry by a Senator's office, we were told the reason was “Section 214(b) of the INA. Section 214(b) explicitly presumes every visitor visa applicant to be an intending immigrant and places the burden of disproving this presumption on the applicant.”

Section 214(b) requires that the following four criteria be met:

(1) Acceptance at a school (see 9 FAM 41.61 N2 and N3); >> This has been met. (2) Possession of sufficient funds (see 9 FAM 41.61 N6); >> This has been met. (3) Preparation for course of study (see 9 FAM 41.61 N7); >> This has been met. (4) Present intent to leave the United States at conclusion of studies (see 9 FAM 41.61 N4).

We have clearly met three of the four and believe that the specific criteria regarding "intent" is the root cause of the denial. There is no checklist on how to prove intent and without a doubt this is the criteria that most applicants probably find challenging. To prove intent, officials typically look at an applicants "ties" to their home country - things that the applicant would not want to abandon (or would "tie" them to returning), such as money, employment, property, and family. This criteria is made even more challenging for youth and young adults.

According to the Department of States own guidelines, the standard ways an applicant proves they have sufficient "ties" to their home country -- cannot be applied to students who are not yet at a point in their lives to sufficiently possess these things.

Manica and Christopher intend to return to Haiti, their families intend for them to return, and we (as their sponsors) intend for them to return. Our actions have been consistent with everyone’s desires and intentions in this case. We do not know what else we can do to help the students demonstrate their intentions to the Embassy.

Which is why we started this petition - we are hoping that with a groundswell of support for the approval of Manica and Christophers F-1 Student Visa applications they will be studying in the U.S. this fall.

We want the law to be applied fairly and the standards set to be achievable by all students applying to study in the United States. Students from any country, rich or poor, who have the desire and support necessary to reach their potential and have met the requirements -- should have their visa applications approved.

The students have reapplied and we have an interview at the U.S. Embassy on July 27th. Please support the approval of the students applications.

THANK YOU!

Sincerely,

Diane and Colin Barnhart

Manica, Christopher and their families, teachers, and friends