By Eleanor Gee

It took 21 months of navigating through COVID-19 restrictions for ‘Atenisi Institute 2020 dux graduate, ‘Okusitino Tae of Kolonga to get a student visa to begin studying in the US this year.

The 29-year-old, who was awarded a postgraduate teaching assistantship in anthropology, is attending the Northern Illinois University outside Chicago and is on track to receive an MA in anthropology.

‘Okusitino told Matangi Tonga  that he almost lost the opportunity due to the difficulty of navigating through COVID-19 delays just to get his US student visa.

“I had originally planned to get here for the Fall Semester which was last year in August but wasn’t able to because of complications in New Zealand.”

“The University was kind enough to postpone it till January [2022] but also informed me that if I am not able to make it for the spring semester then it would be given to another candidate.”

Stuck in Tonga

Tongans seeking student visas for the US are required to attend a personal interview at designated US embassies or consulates (outside of Tonga), however, border and airline restrictions since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020 meant ‘Okusitino was stuck in Tonga.

Remote interviews were unacceptable and the US Embassy in Suva had cancelled its semi-annual visits.

In June 2021, ‘Okusitino finally had the opportunity to interview at the US Consulate in Auckland and was one of eight passengers to fly from Tonga to New Zealand.

“The day we arrived just happened to be the day New Zealand went in to level 4 lockdown,” he said.

“I spent two weeks quarantined at the Rydges Hotel in Auckland and was expected to have my US visa interview at the US Consulate once I was released from quarantine, but since New Zealand was still at Level 4 lockdown, it meant that the US Consulate would be closed until Level 2.”

Three months wait in NZ

‘Okusitino remained in New Zealand for around three months with family members who got him a job as a labourer.

“At the same [time] I was still collaborating with the ‘Atenisi Institute board of directors on other alternatives to try and get my visa interview done before January for the start of the spring semester in the US.”

Stuck in Fiji

Then in December 2021, the US Embassy in Suva re-opened.

“I soon found myself spending three weeks including Christmas and New Years in Fiji,” he said.

‘Okusitino’s visa interview was a success but the day he was supposed to fly out to the US, a cyclone warning postponed the flight.

“I ended up staying another extra two days before I was finally able to fly out and arrive in the US on the 10^th of January.”

‘Okusitino said he was so emotional once he boarded the plane “because it wasn’t certain that I could make it on time and I would have to forfeit the fellowship”.

“But finally sitting inside the plane meant that it was 100% certain, and that made me think back on everything that had happened throughout my journey to get here.”

Cried

“And as soon as I sat the plane took off, I cried and prayed to thank God for guiding me and bringing forth people that helped and supported me and for making everything possible.”

‘Okusitino is thankful and grateful to everyone who helped him on his journey, especially the ‘Atenisi Institute board of directors.

“I am currently midway through the semester at Northern Illinois University. I am experiencing some new things like snow for the first time, and the pace of living here is really fast.”

“I’m looking forward to the rest of my academic journey here and hopefully have a positive outcome.”

‘Atenisi Institute Dean Michael Horowitz said ‘Okusitino’s journey is an example of “the perseverance of our Tongan youth”.

“He is now on course to receive his M.A. in anthropology in November 2023.”