Chinese neuroscientist cries foul after ‘arrogant’ US embassy refuses him a visa … again
Dean of Peking University’s School of Life Sciences had been invited by the National Science Foundation to attend a workshop in Washington
A Chinese neuroscientist who once held US citizenship has accused the US embassy in Beijing of arrogance after he was turned down for a visa – the latest in a series of denials he has experienced from the embassy.
Rao Yi, the dean of science at Peking University, said he had been invited by the National Science Foundation (NSF), a government agency based in Alexandria, Virginia, to attend a science workshop on July 23 and 24 in Washington.
But his plans were scuppered when his visa application was rejected, possibly as a result of the tighter screening process introduced last month for Chinese academics and students in the fields of science and hi-tech manufacturing.
“Most embassies try to make more friends for their countries, [but] the US embassy is arrogant,” Rao told the South China Morning Post.
“I am invited by the NSF, a government agency, but the State Department is taking the opposite path,” he said. “This will have a negative impact for the US.”
In a report by Science magazine, Rao said he had attended an interview at the embassy on Monday, during which he was asked to provide an updated copy of his résumé and travel schedule.