MGS student, Kelton Russell, with Missouri State University Global Studies undergraduate alumna, Madalyn Erickson.
This summer I interned with the State Department at the U.S. consulate in Chengdu, China. I was assigned to the Consular Affairs section, where I worked in biometric intake. I was responsible for fingerprinting and verifying the identity of every visa applicant, which meant I helped hundreds of local Chinese every day. I also worked with the Fraud Prevention Unit, where I helped research and investigate instances of visa fraud.
One of the consulate’s missions was local outreach, so I was able to participate in several programs that allowed me to give presentations to local Chinese students. For example, I gave a presentation on Missouri State to a group of students who were interested in studying in the U.S. I also created a series of informational videos for the consulate’s public website. The purpose of the videos was to explain the visa application and interview process so that applicants would know what to expect when they came to the consulate.
Overall, interning with the State Department in China was a fun and informative experience. I was able to improve my Mandarin speaking skills and get a taste of what life would be like in the Foreign Service. It definitely is an excellent opportunity for anyone considering a career in international relations.