Trump-backed, skill-linked immigration Bill may favour Indian applicants
President Donald Trump is championing a new piece of legislation that proposes to change America’s immigration system to give preference to skills than family links, but the fractious nature of the debate over the move suggests that it is far from becoming a law. Two Republican senators — Lindsey Graham and Ron Johnson — and […]
How the H1B visa programme is holding up under Donald Trump
New York: Despite President Donald Trump’s frequent and public criticism of the H1B visa programme, new data released shows applicants are undeterred. The US government has received more than 300,000 H1B visa petitions and extensions so far this year, according to data released last on Wednesday by US Citizenship and Immigration Services, compared with a total […]
Batting for skilled Indian immigrants, US lawmaker calls for merit-based Green Card system
A top US politician has called for the implementation of a system that awards Green Cards or permanent residency in America based on merit rather than country-specific quota. Speaking on the floor of the US House of Representatives recently, Republican Congressman Kevin Yoder from Kansas said that over 700,000 high skilled immigrant workers from India […]
Over 64,000 people staying in Australia on expired visas
More than 64,000 people are living in Australia illegally after having overstayed their visas, 12,000 of them for over twenty years, the Immigration Department has revealed. The department captures the number of what it calls unlawful non-citizens on June 30 every year. Click here to read more… Credit: www.sbs.com.au
US resumes fast processing of some H1B visa applications
The US has announced resuming faster processing of H1B work visas, popular with Indian IT professionals, for high-skilled foreign professionals in categories exempt from Congress-mandated limit, which are mostly for higher education and scientific research institutions. The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that […]
India-UK immigration treaty on the anvil
The range of immigration-related issues between India and the United Kingdom – including returning illegal migrants, extradition and visas – is to be addressed in a comprehensive agreement due to be signed in New Delhi later this year. These issues were discussed by home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi in a series of meetings with British interlocutors […]
India Is the Fastest-Growing Source of New Illegal Immigrants to the U.S.
By Karan Deep Singh Indians are one of the best-educated and best-paid groups of immigrants in the United States because the slice of the giant global desi diaspora which settles in the States tends to be populated by coders, doctors, engineers, executives and other high-skilled workers that arrive with work visas. There is, however, a growing […]
Indians applying for Green Card have 12-year waiting list
There is a lengthy 12-year waiting period for Indians applying for permanent residency also known as Green Card in the US as skilled employees, according to a new report. However, India is also among the top countries whose residents get Green Cards every year. Click here to read more… Credit: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Visa row: Infosys reaches $1mn settlement with NY state
NEW YORK: Infosys has reached a settlement for USD 1 million with the state of New York for “systematically abusing” the H1-B work visa programme, allegations that Infosys has denied. The development comes just days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting US President Donald Trump, where he is expected to take up the issue of […]
‘PM Modi must raise H-1B visa issue with Donald Trump’: Indians in US
WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi must raise the contentious H-1B visa issue besides defence cooperation and terrorism during his first bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump, members of the Indian community said here today. Modi, who arrived in the US capital today, was welcomed with loud cheers and applause by a group of people […]
Australia Announces Online Visa Application Facility For Indians
The Australian government today announced that Indian nationals can apply for a visitor visa online starting July 1. Australia’s Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Alex Hawke, said the online application option would make applying for the country’s visitor visas easier and enhance the experience for Indians. There has been a significant increase in […]
From July 1, no more departure cards for Indians going on foreign visits
According to a notification issued by the ministry of external affairs, Indians flying abroad will no longer need to fill up departure (embarkation) cards from July 1. This move will discontinue departure cards for Indian passengers at all international airports across the country. However, filling of departure cards will continue at rail, seaport and land […]
Push India’s case on visa curbs with US: Assocham to PM
NEW DELHI: Industry association Assocham on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modito take up the tightening of H1B visa rules with US President Donald Trump during their meeting next week. The chamber said that the prime minister should push India’s case by highlighting that American corporations enjoy liberal market access in India while repatriating profits […]
Texas companies tie worker shortages to immigration fears
AUSTIN, TEXAS: Though construction is in high demand in Texas’ booming capital city, Oscar Martinez’s drywall company is suddenly struggling. One-third of the approximately 20 employees Martinez uses to build new homes and commercial spaces have recently fled the state, spooked by a combination of a federal immigration crackdown by the Trump administration and a […]
Visa refused, NRI longs to see ailing father
CHANDIGARH: In times when a majority of people are looking to settle abroad for greener pastures, a British citizenwith roots in Nayagaon is trying to come back to India, but in vain. Such has been the plight of Birmingham resident Harry Dass that he was not able to see his father when he had suffered […]
Trump’s immigration stance unnerves Indian tech students
After living with his parents for 24 years, Sai Kumar Kovouri decided to give up his life in India for a chance at the American dream. His plan? Get a master’s degree in computer science at the University of Missouri, then hopefully land a great tech job in California. Now he worries a drastic change […]
40% decline in US visas for Pakistanis; 28% increase for Indians: Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has had a significant 40 per cent drop in the number of American visas granted to its nationals under the new Trump administration despite not being on the list of the US President’s travel ban countries. Interestingly, the number of non-immigrant US visas to Indians has increased by 28 per cent in March […]
Huge Change Planned to EB-5 Investment Visa Program
By Charles Foster, Immigration Attorney HOUSTON: The EB-5 Regional Center program is being extended through the balance of the fiscal year through September 30, 2017 as is; what we call a “clean extension.” I’m on the Board of IIUSA, the largest industry organization and in the past the EB-5 Regional Center industry was more than happy to […]
Donald Trump: Not against legal immigration
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has said that he wants to stop illegal immigration into the US and called for a merit-based immigration system that could benefit high-tech professionals from countries like India. “I want to stop illegal immigration…I want people to come into the country legally. I want people to come in on merit. I […]
California Taxi Driver Detained at Immigration Check-In
By AMY TAXIN, Associated Press SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP): A Southern California taxi driver originally from India was detained Monday by U.S. immigration authorities during a check-in for an 18-year-old deportation order. Gurmukh Singh, a 47-year-old husband and father of two teenage girls, was detained at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s offices in Santa Ana. […]
