In Chapter 2 of Adichie’s Americanah, Obinze briefly touched on the accessibility of visas for foreigners to travel to countries such as the United States. In many countries, specifically populations that are predominately white, traveling to other countries around the world is as easy as just buying an airplane ticket and showing their passports at customs. Meanwhile, the citizens of the countries that they visit are restricted the same privilege and opportunity. They go through interviews, background checks, and pay large amounts of money just to be considered to receive a tourist visa. In Obinze’s earlier situation, he was not wealthy and got denied a visa. It wasn’t until he had money and moved upward in society, he was granted one. It states “He had been refused a visa years ago, when he was newly graduated and drunk with American ambitions, but with his new bank statements, he easily got a visa” (Adichie 33).
Americans have the privilege to travel anywhere in the world without the same restrictions that the United States and many European countries impose on foreigners. U.S. citizens can book a flight to Nigeria with only their blue passports, while Obinze and many people from “underdeveloped countries” go through extensive processes just to be considered to acquire a visa, and often be rejected or take months to years to acquire.
Should first world countries, such as the United States, have the ability to travel freely while the people of the country they visit undergo expensive and stringent processes?
Sources
“Chapter 2.” Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Anchor Books, A Division of Random House LLC, New York, 2013, pp. 23-44.
I absolutely disagree, and believe that it’s unacceptable that Americans are the only ones able to travel freely. It’s fascinating how Americans enter other countries, with the imprint of the American flag on their face. On the other hand, foreigners coming into this country are afraid to show who they really are, in fear of being stereotyped; even though America is said to be the most diverse countries.
This reminds me of the time I went to Cancun with my family, from the airport a shuttle took us to the resort where one drives through the slums (areas of high poverty). It made me think about how we judge the immigration situation in the United States without knowing how a lot of people from other countries are living.
“Ifemelu decided to stop faking an America accent on a sunlit day in July, the same day she met Blaine. It was convincing the accent” (Adichie 213). This quote represents how a lot of people that immigrate into the United States, that go through the process of feeling that they need assimilate to American culture.
Sources
“Chapter 17” Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Anchor Books, A Division of Random House LLC, New York, 2013, pp.213
I believe that everyone should have the freedom to freely travel wherever they want without having to go through a long process of obtaining a visa. It isn’t fair to people, that just because they were born in underdeveloped countries, that they can’t travel wherever they would please to. The status of someone’s country or the wealth of someone shouldn’t be the deciding factor of whether a person gets to travel or not. Traveling and exploring other parts of the world should be a given right, not an almost impossible privilege to earn.
In chapter 16 of Americanah, Laura states, “‘Of course, it says nothing about the millions who live on less than a dollar a day back in your country, but when I met the doctor I thought of that article and of you and other privileged Africans who are here in this country’…Privileged was people like Kayode DaSilva, whose passport sagged with the weight of visa stamps, who went to London for summer” (Adichie 207).
Laura’s thoughts on how Ifemelu is “privileged” simply for the fact that she obtained a visa to come to America, gives the readers an insight into how some Americans think about people from underdeveloped countries who get to leave and travel. When Americans are given the chance to travel to another country, no one thinks anything of it, but if someone from an underdeveloped country gets the chance to leave then they are considered lucky and “privileged”. I know people that have applied for an American visa only to get rejected 10 years later and some don’t even get a reply for years on end. It simply isn’t fair or just that some people have to wait for years only to get rejected while people from first world countries get to go wherever they want to, whenever they want to.
“Chapter 16.” Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Anchor Books, A Division of Random House LLC, New York, 2013, pp. 207.
I disagree with the unfairness that comes with travel in regard to Americans and those outside of America. We are granted a privilege within America that is not reciprocated elsewhere. There are only a limited number of locations that Americans cannot travel to without a visa. According to TripSavvy.com, The United States Department of State develops a “Do not travel list” every year. On the list include the Central African Republic, Eritrea and Libya, all conveniently relating back to the text as African nations.
I believe that the process for travel and obtaining a Visa should be equal across the board. No one group should benefit from a system more than another group. Americans ability to travel easily not only impacts their leisure experiences, but also the ability to conduct business outside of the United States. I believe everyone should be afforded this opportunity.
The struggle of applying for a Visa as a non-American is demonstrated by Ranyinudo’s experience. He was Ifemelu’s friend from school and ultimately decided to stay in Nigeria. He had a cousin in America and applied for a Visa but was denied. In Chapter 8, Ranyinudo’s struggle is described when he applied at the embassy “by a black American who said she had a cold and was more interested in blowing his nose than in looking at her documents” (Adichie, p. 120).
This illustrates the struggle that non-Americans experience while trying to obtain a Visa. The casual disregard for Ranyinudo must have been frustrating, especially seeing others accessibility to Visas. Throughout the novel, we see many people experience a struggle with Visas and citizenship. This struggle is beyond what Americans will ever have to experience when traveling.
“Chapter 8.” Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Anchor Books, A Division of Random House LLC, New York, 2013, pp. 120.
“3 Countries You Can’t Visit With an American Passport.” TripSavvy, http://www.tripsavvy.com/countries-you-cant-visit-with-us-passport-3259961.