Federal Judge Hears Arguments against Trump’s H-1B Visa Ban
San Francisco: The future of U.S. immigration policy and the fate of thousands of H-1B, L-1 and other visa holders rests in the hands of a federal judge. Arguments were heard on a preliminary injunction filed by businesses against the Trump administration’s June 2020 proclamation to suspend the entry of foreign nationals on H-1B, L-1, […]
A 6-year-old Girl from India Dies after Crossing the US-Mexico Border
HOUSTON: On the day she died, the little girl was thousands of miles away from the country where she was born. US Border Patrol agents found her remains this week in an area officials describe as “rugged desert wilderness,” 17 miles west of Lukeville, Arizona. In a statement Thursday, US Customs and Border Protection said […]
Sponsoring green card for parents to get tougher
MUMBAI: A draft proposal of the Trump administration dealing with “public charge” is heavily skewed in favour of the wealthy when it comes to issuing green cards to those already in the United States. Contrary to popular perception, several Indians, especially the parents of US citizens, would be adversely impacted. The proposal makes it mandatory […]
Immigration Policies Weigh on Indian Workers Seeking Green Cards
By Laura D. Francis Hundreds of thousands of immigrants, mainly from India, may never get their green cards. Now some are losing their temporary work visas while waiting. That’s not just bad news for the workers. It also affects employers, mostly in high-tech industries, who say they have demonstrated they need high-skilled foreign workers. The situation […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Immigration Seminar: “Mass Deportations Unlikely under Donald Trump”
By Pramod Kulkarni HOUSTON: The unexpected election of Donald Trump has exacerbated tensions felt among South Asians, who are dealing with complex paperwork processes associated with obtaining a green card and permanent citizenship. Trump has talked about building a wall to keep out Mexican illegals, mass deportation of undocumented workers, and putting barriers against outsourcing. […]
Visiting US? Immigration to become fast, hassle-free
New Delhi: Pre-approved, low-risk Indian travellers to the US may soon have an expeditious, hassle-free immigration through automatic kiosks at select American airports, with India set to join the US Global Entry Program ahead of the Indo-US Homeland Security dialogue in July. The Indo-US homeland security dialogue in Washington, to be led by Union home […]
India hopeful of becoming part of US global entry program
Indian VVIPs – top politicians, officials, celebrities and businessman etc. – can hope to get a hassle free entry in the USA soon. In the upcoming Homeland security meet in July, India is expecting US to make India a part of its global entry program that ensures easy entry without going through harassment at the […]
New US visa rules for international students
NEW YORK: The United States federal government changed rules for non-immigrant student visas on Friday, saying that international students will now be eligible to stay for three years after finishing their degrees for training potentially leading to employment. Only students earning degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields from accredited higher education institutes […]
DHS Enhances Opportunities for H-1B1, E-3, CW-1 Nonimmigrants and Certain EB-1 Immigrants, Final Rule Posted
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amended its regulations today to improve the programs serving the H-1B1, E-3 and CW-1 nonimmigrant classifications and the EB-1 immigrant classification, and remove unnecessary hurdles that place such workers at a disadvantage when compared to similarly situated workers in other visa classifications. This final rule, posted to the […]
136 Immigration Law Experts Confirm President’s Executive Action is Constitutional
By Emily Neumann and Rahul Reddy Over 130 scholars and teachers of immigration law transmitted a letter to Congress in which they conclude that the President’s executive actions, including the expansion of DACA and establishment of DAPA, are legal exercises of “prosecutorial discretion.” Citing federal statutes, regulations, and historical precedent, the 136 law professors stated […]
Executive Action Brings Relief to Millions of Immigrants
Immigration Update from Willy, Nanayakkara, Rivera and Goins The President’s Executive Action announcement has finally come. While the specifics of how the programs will be instituted have yet to be determined, the overview of each program has been announced. The changes provided affect both undocumented immigrants and immigrants lawfully present, and the highlights of the […]
President Likely to Take Action on Immigration Before Year’s End
By Rahul Reddy & Emily Neumann President Obama discussed immigration in an interview with “Face the Nation” host Bob Schieffer, which aired on November 9, 2014. He again confirmed his intention to use his executive authority to act on immigration by the end of the year. Frustration with the lack of congressional action and […]
