( CNN ) -- A 22-year-old man from Pakistan hopes to soon swim the English Channel with an American friend -- but first he 's got to navigate the currents of bureaucracy . College teammates David Gatz ( left ) and Usman Javaid want to swim the English Channel for charity . Usman Javaid , an Ohio college student who has won national swimming titles in his native Pakistan , wants to swim the channel with his best friend , David Gatz , a fellow member of the swim team at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware , Ohio . They want to honor their international friendship by working together to accomplish a great feat : a relay across the English Channel . They also hope to raise money for charity . `` With teamwork and cooperation you can tackle even the toughest of challenges , '' Javaid told CNN in a phone interview Wednesday from Islamabad , Pakistan . Yet the British government has denied Javaid 's request for the visa that would let him enter the country . British authorities say they ca n't grant a visa because they have questions about Javaid 's student status , the young man said . `` They were n't satisfied I was going to Britain for the stated purpose , '' he said . Javaid said his passport contains a valid student visa for the United States and he sent documentation from the Channel Swimming Association with his visa application to prove he is scheduled to do the swim . The United Kingdom Border Agency told CNN in a written statement that `` all visa applications are considered on their individual merits , taking into account all the information provided . '' `` Where an applicant fails to demonstrate they meet the relevant rules , their application will be refused , '' the statement said . The agency noted that anyone who is refused can reapply with additional information . Mark Cooper , the director of marketing and communication at Ohio Wesleyan University , said British authorities have not contacted the university to ask about Javaid 's student status . `` We did send ... documentation to [ British authorities ] to follow up '' after Javaid 's application was denied , he said . Javaid has since applied to the British high commissioner in Islamabad for an emergency visa . Meanwhile , Gatz and the university 's head swim coach , Dick Hawes , are waiting in Dover , England , hoping things will work out so the men can try to accomplish their goal . The Channel Swimming Association has granted them permission to try their crossing between July 29 and August 6 , Javaid said . The association determines such `` swim windows '' after considering the expected tides and the schedules of pilot boats , which accompany the swimmers . The association sent a letter Thursday to the British high commissioner in Pakistan to confirm Javaid 's mission , said Joan Metcalfe , the association 's chairwoman . As the clock ticks , Gatz remains in Dover , where he passes the time by training in the channel . `` There is some frustration , '' he said Thursday , `` but we 're also optimistic . '' Gatz is the captain of Ohio Wesleyan University 's varsity swim team . He swam twice for the university at the NCAA national championship meet and holds numerous records . Javaid is a gold medalist on the Pakistani national swim team and represented his country at the South Asian Federation Games . Their coach said he 's proud of the pair , no matter the outcome of their attempt . `` I think it 's great . It shows so much maturity on their part -- first , to take on such a large endeavor , but it also speaks so much about their friendship , '' Hawes said . Their relationship reflects the unity of the entire swim team at the school , he said . `` This is an international family , '' the coach said of his swimmers . `` It 's a phenomenal environment . This has just been such a great experience . '' As they work to accomplish their goal , Gatz and Javaid also are accepting donations for Doctors Without Borders , an international medical humanitarian organization also known by its French name , Medecins Sans Frontieres . Gatz , who is double-majoring in biochemistry and pre-med , said the idea came as they followed news reports of Pakistan 's campaign against the Taliban this year , which displaced thousands of civilians in the country 's northwest . `` We wanted to donate to an organization that was helping people there , '' he explained . Javaid added Thursday , `` That was a big reason we chose Doctors Without Borders , because there are a lot of people suffering in that area and they are assisting them . '' Some of the donations will cover costs associated with their anticipated channel swim , he added . But even if they do n't get to do their relay , Javaid said , their effort is still worthwhile . `` Even if my visa does n't go through , we 'll continue with Channeling Peace , '' he vowed , referring to the organization they set up for their effort . `` Even if I have to swim in a lake in Pakistan while David swims in the English Channel , it 's still a powerful symbol , '' Javaid said . `` Symbols gather power not from the act itself but from the people who are supporting them , '' he said . `` A lot of people around the world are supporting us and our message . As long as they support it in their hearts and minds , we have been successful . ''
College teammates want to swim English Channel for charity , international harmony . Swim was to happen between now and August 6 , but one denied visa to Britain . Usman Javaid , an Ohio student from Pakistan , says U.K. questioned student status . Javaid reapplies for visa , waits for decision .