Iranians flooding an overwhelmed U.S. Embassy in Turkey

[Old Ducker]

Turkey borders Iran, and more than 8,300 Iranians are expected to apply for U.S. visas by year’s end. “If such trends continue, the consular section in Ankara will be unable to handle the workload,” the IG said.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/2010/08/iranians_flooding_an_overwhelm.html

Not sure what to make of this, the article doesn't list the reasons. The US has become popular (again) for Iranians to attend college as many of last summer's demonstrators have been denied entrance to Iranian universities. Among the reasons are that its easier for them to acclimate as Iranians are taught english in school, American universities are well respected and Iranians have an affinity for American culture. On the other hand it could be economic as Iran has a 25% unemployment rate, or an exodus due to war fears.

Under current rules, Iranians who come to the US for college get a one-time visa only. If they return to Iran for any reason, they have to go through the entire application process again which is pretty expensive as they have to travel to turkey or cyprus for the nearest US embassy.

 

[oyarde]

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/2010/08/iranians_flooding_an_overwhelm.html

Not sure what to make of this, the article doesn't list the reasons. The US has become popular (again) for Iranians to attend college as many of last summer's demonstrators have been denied entrance to Iranian universities. Among the reasons are that its easier for them to acclimate as Iranians are taught english in school, American universities are well respected and Iranians have an affinity for American culture. On the other hand it could be economic as Iran has a 25% unemployment rate, or an exodus due to war fears.

Under current rules, Iranians who come to the US for college get a one-time visa only. If they return to Iran for any reason, they have to go through the entire application process again which is pretty expensive as they have to travel to turkey or cyprus for the nearest US embassy.

I believe it is the economics.