Fraudsters who target Indians entering the US on work visas and green card are still very active
On September 6, around 1.50 pm, a new immigrant to the US from India, who wishes to be identified as AS, received a call purportedly from the American emergency service 911. “My phone ID just showed ‘Emergency Number’. I picked it up, curious to know why they would call me. And my ordeal started,” AS […]
Apple, JP Morgan, Pepsi fear ‘harm’ from Donald Trump’s H-1B visa policy
By Ben Brody Dozens of top US business leaders including Apple Inc.’s Tim Cook, JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Jamie Dimon and Pepsico Inc.’s Indra Nooyi signed a letter expressing “serious concerns” about the Trump administration’s immigration policy changes and their potential to undermine economic growth. The letter focused on recent changes in the area of […]
Immigrants from India Increasing at US-Mexico Border
SAN FRANCISCO— Immigrants from India are becoming increasingly common at the U.S.-Mexico border. They are now the fifth-largest group after immigrants from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. While Indians still lag far behind Latin Americans, the number is rising. In fiscal year 2017, 2,227 Indians were apprehended trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. In the […]
Apple, JP Morgan, Pepsi fear ‘harm’ from Donald Trump’s H-1B visa policy
Dozens of top US business leaders including Apple Inc.’s Tim Cook, JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Jamie Dimon and Pepsico Inc.’s Indra Nooyi signed a letter expressing “serious concerns” about the Trump administration’s immigration policy changes and their potential to undermine economic growth. The letter focused on recent changes in the area of high-skilled immigration. The […]
US eases rules for foreign students, lifts bar on STEM-OPT students at client work sites
By Lubna Kably MUMBAI: The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reversed its earlier stand that international STEM students undergoing optional practical training ) cannot be placed at customer work sites. The USCIS made changes on its website on Friday night removing these restrictions, but reiterated that employers need to meet their training obligations. In addition, in keeping […]
Over 21,000 Indians overstayed visas in US last year: Report
WASHINGTON: In the year 2017, more than 21,000 Indians who were supposed to leave the US at the end of their permissible limits overstayed their visas, as per the latest official report. While the percentage of Indians overstaying and not leaving the US after the expiry of their visas is not very high compared to […]
US stays policy to deport ‘out-of-status’ foreigners
By Lubna Kably MUMBAI: Implementation of a recent policy that would have resulted in initiation of deportation proceedings against foreign nationals who are out of status when their immigration applications (such as for H-1B extensions) are denied has been delayed. The deadline for creation of the operational guidelines to issue notices to appear (NTA), which […]
Now, your visa hinges on your online profile too
By Lubna Kably Mind your step! These words have taken on a new meaning for globetrotting individuals who are also active on social media. Immigration and border security officials across several countries are keeping an eye on your social media trail and looking up your online profiles. This helps throw up inconsistencies in information submitted to […]
E-visa fee hike may hit India’s plan to double tourist arrivals in 3 years
India’s plan to double foreign tourist arrivals to 20 million in three years could hit a speed bump with 60 per cent hike in e-visa fees, according to tour operators. Operators want the government to reverse the decision. A few days ago, the government increased e-visa fees, taking the travel industry by surprise. For most […]
New rule allows deportation if H-1B extension is rejected
MUMBAI: Many H-1B visa holders could find themselves facing deportation proceedings if their application for a visa extension or change of status has been rejected and the tenure of stay granted originally by the US authorities (as reflected in Form 1-94) has expired. To make matters worse, despite no longer holding on to a job, […]
UK launches new visas route for Indian scientists, academics
The UK has launched new visas that will be open to overseas scientists and researchers, including Indians, to encourage the growth of the country’s research sector. The new UKRI Science, Research and Academia scheme, which is being added to the already existing Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange) visa route, opened from yesterday […]
Nearly 100 Indians held at 2 detention centres in US, India establishes contact
The Indian mission in the US has established contact with two immigration detention centres where nearly 100 Indians, mostly from Punjab, are detained for illegally entering the country through its southern border. According to officials, around 40-45 Indians are at a federal detention centre in the Southern American State of New Mexico while 52 Indians, […]
UK opens up thousands of visa slots to IT professionals, engineers, teachers
If you are an IT professional, engineer, doctor or a teacher there is a good news for you. The UK government is planning to introduce a new immigration policy in which Indian IT professionals, doctors are among those expected to benefit. The UK government has tabled changes to its immigration policy in Parliament, which is also likely […]
‘No big changes’ in H-1B visa: US Deputy Chief of Mission Carlson
NEW DELHI: There have been “no big changes” in the H-1B programme and “nothing new” on the H-4 visa policy, the US said today, amid the Trump administration’s plan to overhaul the immigration system. US Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) in Delhi, MaryKay L Carlson said granting employment visa and work permits is the sovereign […]
150-Year Wait for Indian Immigrants With Advanced Degrees
By David Bier I have previously written that no one knows how long legal immigrant workers will have to wait for permanent residency (i.e. green cards) in the United States, particularly from India where the wait times are the longest. But now U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released the number of applicants for each category, so […]
US receives over 5,000 tips on H-1B visa fraud on dedicated e-mail helpline: Official
WASHINGTON: More than 5,000 complaints of H-1B visa fraud and abuse have been received by a federal agency on a dedicated e-mail helpline that was launched by the Trump administration last year, an official said. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require […]
H-1B visa: A tale of changing policies, growing anxieties
WASHINGTON: In line with the Trump administration’s protectionist policies and a “Buy American, Hire American” strategy to spur job creation, the H-1B visa allocation process has come under intense scrutiny over the past one year. The rules that once allowed for skilled Indian professionals to get jobs in the United States were changed all of a […]
30,000 sign petition in support of Indian professionals denied UK visas
Over 30,000 people have signed an online petition calling on the UK government to stop “abusing” a national security clause to deny hundreds of highly-skilled Indian professionals the right to live and work in the country. Britain’s newly-appointed Pakistani-origin Home Secretary Sajid Javid told a parliamentary committee this week that he would “urgently” look into […]
Poll finds more favourable attitudes towards Indian immigrants than Pakistanis and Bangladeshis – why?
A recent survey looking into attitudes towards immigrants of different origins has thrown up some interesting figures. YouGov asked 1,668 UK adults whether immigrants from various parts of the world had made a positive or negative contribution to British life. Click here to read more… Credit: theconversation.com
US agency conducts H-1B visa lottery for 1.90 lakh applications
MUMBAI: The number of applications for the H-1B visa, heavily relied upon by India’s tech industry, has fallen for the second year in a row. For the 2018-19 season (FY 2019), which would permit successful visa applicants to work in the United States (US) from October 1, the US agency received 1.90 lakh applications as […]
