Should I change my undergraduate thesis topic because of travel issues? I'm in the 7th semester (of 10) in History and I've been doing some work on my thesis. I have most of what I need to begin. My planned topic is about how viticulture developed in California in the twentieth century and how it influenced viticulture in the rest of the world especially since the 60's. 

I already have a lot of knowledge of wine as I'm a certified sommelier. My visa to the US was rejected (I'm from Mexico), and the universities that have partnerships with mine aren't in California. As I wanted to collect oral histories, this is a major issue. 

My friend suggested that I change my topic to viticulture in New Zealand but I have to change completely the approach, and I have very little knowledge of NZ history. I don't have a supervisor yet. Some professors have told me that I should focus on Mexico, but almost everyone here does regional history and I'd like to change that, as well as taking an extra challenge of having a bilingual thesis. 

So, what do you think? I have to take this decision this semester to avoid getting stuck with bureaucracy for a long time. I'm eager to read your opinions!
Some thoughts:


Can you collect oral histories without travelling to the US? For example, you can do interviews through Skype or work with a research assistant to collect some of the oral histories for you?
Why are you fixated on collecting oral histories? It seems to me that, in this case, the research question may be answered through some other means of data collection. For example, document analysis may be an alternative. 
It seems to me like your equating travel (or at least presence in a country) with the feasibility of your research question. I'm not sure that's appropriate. What would you do if you can't get to NZ, say because of visa or cost issues? Select a third country? What happens if you can't get into that country? Select a fourth?
Why are you intent on a bilingual thesis? There are a number of great South American wine manufacturers -- Chile, for example -- where you might apply the same basic research question.


Good luck!