Melbourne schoolboy says he is the first Australian denied a visa to enter the US

A MELBOURNE schoolboy who claims to be the first Australian hit by Donald Trump’s immigration ban says he’s “upset”.

A MELBOURNE schoolboy who claims to be the first Australian denied a visa to enter the United States is still hopeful Australia will be able to work out a deal so he can go to “space camp”.

Pouya Ghadirian, who was born and raised in Melbourne to Iranian parents, was due to go to the US for a “space camp” in late March.

But when the 15-year-old arrived for an interview at the US Consulate in Melbourne on Monday, he was told wasn’t able to get a visa because of presidential orders signed by Donald Trump on Friday.

Pouya said he had heard about the temporary immigration ban stopping people from seven Muslim-majority countries entering America on the news, but until he went to the consulate he couldn’t believe it was real and was actually happening.

“Especially as somebody who was born in Australia ... I haven’t lived anywhere else but Melbourne. I didn’t expect to not be let into the US,” Melbourne High School student told Today.

Pouya Ghadirian pictured outside the US Consulate in Melbourne with the document given to him declining his visa because of the presidential declaration. Picture: Amber Wilson/AAP

He said he cried after his interview when “shocked” officers were forced to decline his school trip to visit Orlando, Washington, and the US Space & Rocket Center in Alabama.

“I was quite upset ... it was unbelievable,” he said.

“You could tell people in the US consulate were really apologetic and they didn’t really want to break the news to me but ... they couldn’t do anything else.

“I’m an Australian citizen. I should be allowed, just like you should be allowed, just like you should be.”

When asked what he thought about Mr Trump he acknowledged that the president was democratically elected.

“Its not just Trump’s fault I guess,” he said.

“The visa policy on Iranian and other countries’ dual nationals, this was already made more strict under the Obama administration.

“So I mean it was hard enough just having to get a visa as an Australian citizen. But now that I’m completely banned, I just think it’s unfair.

“I won’t get into any politics and I’m not taking any sides. But I just think that this policy should be reviewed very fast within the next few days.”

Pouya said he still wanted to go the US and is hopeful Australia will be able to work out a deal.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed this morning that Australian dual nationals would be able to travel to America in the usual way, and they had been exempted from the ban.

Earlier Pouya said he had been in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and he thought there was “some hope”.

Pouya still wants to go to the US for space camp.

Yesterday Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she would be seeking an exemption from the Trump administration for dual Australian citizens impacted by the ban, who also hold citizenship in the seven countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.

Ms Bishop says she’s directed officials in Washington to work with the US government to ensure Australians get as good a deal on the right to enter and travel in the US as citizens other countries such as Canada and the UK

“I hope the government does help to do what it can to uphold my rights as an Australian citizen,” Pouya told reporters on Monday night.

“To not be able to go to the United States devalues my passport and my rights as an Australian citizen.

“It’s all a political matter, but hopefully the government can sort out an arrangement with the United States and make sure Australia is part of that list of countries where dual citizens can still go to the United States.”

Mr Trump’s immigration ban has caused confusion and shock around the world with many leaders speaking out against it.

Mr Turnbull yesterday refused to condemn the ban, saying it was not his job to run a commentary on the domestic policies of other countries.

Labor leader Bill Shorten said while the US should be allowed to make its own decisions, there were some issues where Australia could not remain silent. He says Mr Trump’s ban on people from the seven countries is appalling and ought to be scrapped as soon as possible.