After nine years of visa rejections and thousands of dollars spent on nonrefundable fees, Gambian high school student Adama Jarju finally gave up on his dream of studying in the US.
Now a third-year computer science student at Temple University in Tokyo, Jarju’s mindset has changed, and he wished he knew about the educational options in Japan sooner.
“It wasn’t my first choice,” Jarju told The PIE News: “But everything happens for a reason, and I’m thankful for it”.
Though his experience of the US visa system predates the tightening of restrictions under President Trump, it illustrates what increased visa barriers can mean for students and global talent flows, as experts predict a 10% drop in total international enrolments at American colleges this fall.
Jarju explained his shock at watching how life has changed for his friends studying at US institutions under the current system, compared to his experience in Japan. “Even though there are a lot of opportunities [in the US], peace is so important,” he said.
“I suppose I haven’t given up on my dream of going to the US, I might like to visit as a tourist, but I’m happy here for the fact that it is secure, it is peaceful, and the people are lovely.”
He said his dream of studying in the US started in high school when a lot of his friends held similar ambitions.
“Many of us were from less privileged families and while some ended up achieving it, we understood that study abroad needs a lot of financial support, so if it wasn’t available, it remained a mere dream.”
Jarju was among several classmates supported by a private US scholarship, funding his schooling in Gambia and his visa application fees after Jarju was admitted to Temple University’s Philadelphia campus.
Despite submitting letters of recommendations from Gambia’s US ambassador, visa officials were unconvinced about Jarju’s intention to return home after graduation and rejected his visa five times – with each application costing near-$500.
But Jarju said the system expects evidence most teenagers from less privileged backgrounds simply can’t provide.
“If you’re not fortunate enough to be born in a family that has a business, then it’s difficult. The only strong ties you can show is your family, and that’s how it is.”
Even Americans are struggling because of the consequences their system is producing
Adama Jarju
It was in 2024 when he decided to give up his dream of the US and enrol in Temple University’s Tokyo campus, the largest US institution in Japan.
The campus’ student body hails from the US, the UK and across Asia, as well as Africa and South America. Jarju says he’s found it easy to bond with Asian students through discovering cultural similarities, while hearing about their differences has broadened his perspective.
“One of the culture shocks at the beginning was seeing LGBTQ+ people because back home, it’s very rare to encounter them. Now, I can put aside my biases and my cultural definition. I can be friends with them and sit with them, listening to their perspective on life.”
And while he’s not ruled out finding work experience in Japan after graduation, he says he would never “abandon” his country and hopes to use his degree to expand affordable internet access in rural Gambian communities.
As for the US, Jarju said he was disappointed but not surprised when Trump expanded his travel ban to nearly 40 nations, including partial restrictions on Gambia which bars the issuance of study visas.
His message to Gambian high school students is to “keep believing, keep hoping, and do not let one single person define your life”.
“But don’t make the mistake that I did, putting all your eggs in one basket and hoping it works out … When applying, try different destinations, try the US, but if it doesn’t work out, you have some hope elsewhere.”
Given the immigration landscape in the US, characterised by long processing delays and incoming changes to OPT and H1-B work visas, Jarju’s advice is being heeded by international students across the world, who are increasingly applying to a wider range of study destinations.
Meanwhile, stakeholders have emphasised the damaging impact of declining international students, expected to cost the US $3.4bn in economic losses and 39,000 jobs this year, alongside the cultural and academic repercussions for US campuses.
“Even Americans are struggling because of the consequences their system is producing,” said Jarju: “But people have concerns about immigration in every country on earth, that is normal.”
“But there’s a way you need to handle it, and if you have people in the system doing it any way they want, that is when the failure begins, because you end up barring the best of the best from your country.”
