Connect with us

Politics

US embassy warns law violation can cost student visas

Published

on

US embassy warns law violation can cost student visas


A traveller shows the cancelled visa in his passport to reporters at Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, US, February 6, 2017.—Reuters
A traveller shows the cancelled visa in his passport to reporters at Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, US, February 6, 2017.—Reuters
  • US embassy warns arrests can revoke student visas.
  • Embassy cites deportation risk and future visa ineligibility.
  • “A US visa is a privilege, not a right,” embassy says.

The US embassy in India warned on Thursday that arrests or violations of US laws can lead to student visa revocation, deportation and future ineligibility for US visas.

In a post on X, the embassy’s account @USAndIndia said: “Breaking US laws can have serious consequences for your student visa.” 

“If you are arrested or violate any laws, your visa may be revoked, you may be deported, and you could be ineligible for future US visas. Follow the rules and don’t jeopardise your travel. A US visa is a privilege, not a right,” it added.

The warning follows other recent messaging by the US embassy in New Delhi on visa compliance.

In December, the embassy said it would deny tourist visa applications if consular officers believe the trip is primarily aimed at giving birth in the United States to secure US citizenship for a child.

“This is not permitted,” the embassy said in a post on X.

Gulf News reported the move added to uncertainty for Indian visa holders, including professionals who account for over 70% of H-1B approvals and nearly 90% of H-4 visas with work authorisation. 

The US Embassy in India has also rescheduled visa interviews for some applicants, issuing fresh appointment dates extending to mid-2026.

Separately, the Trump administration in September proposed changes to rework the H-1B visa selection process to favour higher-skilled and better-paid workers, a Federal Register notice said. 

The proposal followed a White House proclamation introducing a $100,000 fee for the visas. 

If annual requests exceed the statutory limit of 85,000, the notice said, heavier weight would be given to applications by employers who pay high wages, with the stated aim of protecting Americans from unfair wage competition from foreign workers.

President Trump, a Republican, sought to reshape the H-1B process during his 2017–2021 presidency, but was stymied by federal courts and limited time at the end of his presidency.

Tighter US immigration policies are also feeding into wider concerns in India. 

Matchmakers, academics and prospective brides and grooms say families are less inclined to marry their children to Indian citizens based in the US, citing fears that potential partners could lose their job or immigration status. There is no official government data on marriages between Indian citizens living at home and overseas.

Indian government figures put the US Indian diaspora at around 2.1 million Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Since returning to office in January, Trump has launched a broad immigration crackdown, including efforts to limit legal pathways to residency. 

Indians accounted for 71% of H-1B visas last year, while US Citizenship and Immigration Services data show that about 75% of H-1B visas issued to Indian citizens in 2024 were awarded to men.

For students, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement data show there were 422,335 Indian students in the US in 2024, with visa-policy uncertainty prompting many to rethink the “American Dream”.





Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

Iran Assures Neighbours of Non-Aggression Amid Regional Tensions

Published

on

Iran Assures Neighbours of Non-Aggression Amid Regional Tensions



Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a significant statement aimed at easing regional tensions, assuring that Iran will not launch missile strikes or take aggressive action against neighbouring countries.

The president said the decision was taken with the approval of the Interim Leadership Council, stressing that Iran’s policy of non-aggression will remain in place as long as no attacks are carried out on Iranian territory.

Commitment to Peace

In a message shared on social media, Pezeshkian said Iran harbours no hostility toward regional countries and expressed regret over the recent tensions affecting neighbouring states.

“We harbor no hostility toward regional countries and apologize for the recent situation with our neighbors,” the president said.

Sovereignty Will Be Protected

While calling for peace, Pezeshkian also emphasized that Iran’s sovereignty and national security would not be compromised.

He added that diplomatic efforts and mediation aimed at ending the ongoing conflict should be led by the countries that initiated the confrontation.

Regional De-escalation Efforts

The statement comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East following military exchanges involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, prompting calls from several countries for de-escalation and dialogue to restore regional stability.



Source link

Continue Reading

Politics

Dubai introduces new public safety laws, fines up to AED2m

Published

on

Dubai introduces new public safety laws, fines up to AED2m


People walk on a promenade overlooking the skyline in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. — Reuters/File
People walk on a promenade overlooking the skyline in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. — Reuters/File 

DUBAI: Dubai has announced the implementation of a new public safety law introducing stricter regulations for public spaces and events, with fines ranging from AED500 ($136) to AED1 million ($272,000), authorities said.

Under the legislation, repeat violations within one year could result in fines of up to AED2 million, officials added.

The new law, which takes effect across the emirate on June 1, sets out enhanced safety requirements for public venues and gatherings.

The rules were issued by Dubai’s Ruler, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Dubai introduces new public safety laws, fines up to AED2m

According to the regulations, public venues and events must ensure safe entry and exit routes, adequate lighting, and capacity limits to prevent overcrowding.

Event organisers will be required to provide firefighting equipment, emergency evacuation plans, first aid facilities, and trained security personnel.

Compliance with safety instructions at public venues has been made mandatory.

The law also requires adherence to designated swimming times at beaches and prohibits access to restricted areas.

Possession of explosives or fireworks without a permit is banned, as is the use and transport of hazardous or flammable materials.





Source link

Continue Reading

Politics

India let Iran warship dock the day US sank another off Sri Lanka, say officials

Published

on

India let Iran warship dock the day US sank another off Sri Lanka, say officials


The Iranian military ship IRIS Lavan is docked at a port in Kochi, India, March 7, 2026. — Reuters
The Iranian military ship IRIS Lavan is docked at a port in Kochi, India, March 7, 2026. — Reuters

India has allowed an Iranian warship to dock as a humanitarian gesture, Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Saturday, after the US sank another Iranian navy vessel off neighbouring Sri Lanka.

The Lavan docked at India’s southern port of Kochi on Wednesday, the same day the US submarine struck Iranian navy frigate Dena, after an urgent request from Tehran, an Indian government source told Reuters.

US President Donald Trump has said destroying the Iranian navy is one aim of the war he and Israel launched against the Islamic Republic a week ago.

The Lavan – an amphibious landing vessel, according to the US Naval Institute’s online news site – and two other ships “were coming in for a fleet review and then they got, in a way, caught on the wrong side of the events,” Jaishankar told the annual Raisina Dialogue event.

“I think we really approached it from the point of view of humanity, of other than whatever the legal issues were,” he said. “I think we did the right thing.”

At least 87 people were killed in the US attack on the Dena in Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone, 19 nautical miles off the coast, outside its maritime boundaries.

India received the docking request for the Lavan on February 28, the day the Iran war started, the source said late on Friday, adding that the request “was urgent as the vessel had developed technical issues”.

Its 183 crew members have been accommodated at naval facilities in Kochi, said the source, who asked not to be identified citing confidentiality.

The Dena was on its way back from a naval exercise organised by India, according to the drill’s website and Sri Lankan officials.

Sri Lankan authorities said on Friday that they were escorting the Iranian naval ship Booshehr to a harbour on the eastern coast and moving most of its crew to a navy camp near Colombo.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending