Chen says he is set to leave China for U.S. May 19, 2012 -- Updated 0632 GMT (1432 HKT) China has said Chen Guangcheng can apply to study abroad The blind human rights activist escaped house arrest last month U.S. authorities have completed the paperwork for him to travel to the U.S. (CNN) -- Chen Guangcheng, the Chinese human rights activist who ignited a diplomatic frenzy when he escaped house arrest last month, says he is at Beijing airport Saturday and is getting ready to fly to New York. He said Wednesday he had received passport applications for himself and his family. U.S. authorities have completed all the processing for Chen, his wife and two children to travel to the United States, where Chen has been invited to study by New York University, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said this week.