Patrick and Candice Cheah En-route to Indonesia Dear family and friends,
We have some anxious moments! College starts in a week for Natalie and there is still no news of her student visa after 4 months of waiting. Finally, we received the notice of decision from US Immigration Services – her visa is denied! This left us no time to appeal the decision before the semester starts. The reason for denial is that she had departed the USA while the application was in process. We were confused!
Is it in God’s will that Natalie went on a mission trip to serve Him that result in this situation?
We drove to the college to discuss with the staff on the options open to us. First we were relieved to find out that the registrar was very sympathetic to our plight. The Dean of Admissions is prepared to hold Natalie’s admission to be following semester, beginning in January 2009 with the same scholarship. This gives us more time to work on her visa.
Natalie may opt to appeal the decision which may encounter complications in approval. Another option is for Natalie to return to Malaysia to apply for the visa. It usually takes one day to approve the visa at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. After a long while away from home, this will also allow Natalie to attend to her personal matters, update her other official documentations, see friends and relatives again before she starts college – another long time away from home.
Could this be God’s providence for Natalie?
We look to the Lord to work out His will in this situation. We are confident that Natalie’s trip to Brazil is in His will for it has proved to be a positive impact.
Pray with us that God’s sovereign will be done in this situation – pray that He will provide for her trip home and grant her favor in the approval of her visa.
