To Move Or Not To Move: Students’ Perceptions About Embassies, Travel Constraints And Migration Information Channels On University Of Ghana, Legon Campus

ABSTRACT Migration takes so many forms and all these have their own challenges, constraints and motivation. In view of this, it is important to identify some of these travel constraints and also further identify the information channels used by some of the migrants and their perceptions about embassies. Against this backdrop, this study examined students‘ perception about how embassies influence destination choice, travel constraints and migration information channels on University of Ghana Campus. It specifically examined perception about how embassies influence destination choice and established preferred migration information channels. It also determined perception of potential migrants about travel constraints based on demographic profile of respondents. Drawing on the push pull and network theories of migration, the various factors motivating students to migrate were also examined. Using the case of students of University of Ghana campus, a simple random sampling method was used in selecting 114 students for the questionnaire survey and a focus group discussion was also conducted. The results indicate that majority of respondents have had an encounter with an embassy before via visa application. However, students‘ engagement with an embassy were not aligned to a specific sex, age group and level students were in the university. Respondents rated the rate of issuance of visas and the friendly attitude of staffs at the Chinese and Netherland‘s embassies very high as compared to the UK, USA and Canada, albeit majority of students preferred to travel to the UK and USA. With respect to respondents ‘preferred migration information channels, majority of respondents prefer travel agencies, online portals and family and friends as their information channels as compared to newspapers. Factors such as financial constraints, emerging immigration policies, family attachments, complex requirements and documentations of embassies and long distance to destination regions were some of the perceived travel constraints confronting students. Also, the results suggest that, how one perceives the various problems travelers encounter when migrating or travelling is not aligned with a specific sex, age or level of education on the university of Ghana campus. The study further established that factors such as employment opportunities, better living condition or other economic motives, existing peace and stability within destination countries, the need to experience social and cultural diversity, the need to further one‘s education and strong family ties are some of the reasons why students intend to migrate. Consequently, the study recommends the tailoring of appropriate travel packages by various travel agencies that will help in averting most of the travelling constraints confronting students.