Government and American Airlines for their prompt efforts to provide the Sanmartins with assistance In their hour of great need. Shortly after the accident. I learned that Dora and Vicente Sanmartin. the parents of Luis. hoped to travel to New York to be with their injured son and to care for their grandchildren. and was asked to assist in securing the visas. I was concerned that the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil. Ecuador. appreciate the importance of Issuing visas to the Sanmartins on an urgent basis. I was also worried because I understand that applicants from developing countries are often denied visitor visas because it Is assumed many intend to stay In the United States permanently. I thus notified the State Departments Operations Center on Memorial Day. faxed a letter to the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil. and contacted the office of Bernard Aronson. Assistant Secretary of State for InterAmerican Affairs. The response was extremely gratifying. as the Consulate General assured me that the Sanmartins visa request would be given urgent and sympathetic consideration. I am pleased to say that the visas were in fact issued and Dora and Vicente have arrived in New York. I was also concerned about the expense to the family of flying Alicias body to Guayaquil. as well as the roundtrip travel expense for Dora and Vicente. I therefore contacted American Airlines to Inquire about the possibility of defraying these travel costs. as well as the roundtrip travel costs of Carlos Cartejena. a family member who planned to accompany Alicias body back to Ecuador.
Identified stereotypes
Applicants from developing countries are often denied visitor visas because it is assumed many intend to stay in the United States permanently.