‘New H-1B visa rules may not affect hiring in US’

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JUNE 01, 2019 00:00 IST

Despite the recent changes in the H-1B visa rules, companies in the United States may not change their hiring patterns for MBA graduates.

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) corporate recruiters survey 2019, released on Wednesday, 48% of US employers have planned or are willing to hire the same number of international candidates as last year (47%). In 2017, the companies had hired as much as 55% international candidates.

The H1-B visa rule changes were enforced from April 1 this year, but those with advanced degrees from US institutions have an edge over those with bachelor’s degrees. The survey has noted that in US companies, MBAs continue to draw the highest pay package.

The survey, conducted among 1,200 employers in 45 countries, found that most employers planned to increase MBA starting salaries in 2019 (56%), including 63% of Asia-Pacific employers and 49% of European employers.

On average, new recruits in 2019 are estimated to earn US$115,000 — more than double the median for new bachelor’s degree recruits (US$55,000) and the highest ever recorded in the US, when adjusted for inflation, according to the survey.

Consulting sector

By industries among US employers, median MBA starting salaries are highest in the consulting and finance/accounting industries. “There has been a feeling of uncertainty in recent years around the direction of the US visa policy, which is impacting international hiring and application trends,” said Sangeet Chowfla, president of GMAC.

There has been a feeling of uncertainty in recent years around the direction of the US visa policy

Sangeet Chowfla

President, GMAC

Indians living abroad to see the big picture today

Rujuta.Parekh @timesgroup.com

Pune:23.05.2019

The suspense over Lok Sabha election results is not limited to the country alone. Several Indians living across the world have planned live screening of the poll results.

Several non-resident Indians (NRIs) in Melbourne have geared up for the election result update at a restaurant in Victoria. The screening, accompanied with discussions and ‘masala’ tea, will start at 4.30 pm local time on May 23.

“This is for the first time that there will be live telecast of Indian election results in Melbourne. This place (Victoria) is a hub of NRIs and I am sure the organizers will have to host a lot of regulars. People like us are very excited to be a part of the event,” said Maninder Singh Virk, orginally from Karnal in Haryana.

“We are all going to the venue in a group of 10-15. We are undoubtedly excited about the arrangement,” he told TOI from Melbourne.

On the other hand, the Indian News, Apnu Gujarat and Apna Bharat from New Zealand have organised live screening of the results at the Barmoral Community Hall in Auckland.

The entry will be free of cost, with complementary refreshments of tea, ‘samosa’, ‘bhaji’ and a sweet.

In London, the SOAS India Society is set to screen the results live from 10.30am local time. In the US, a similar screening has been organized starting at local time 9.30pm on May 22 at the Woodbury 10 Theatre in Minneapolis.

The NRIs in Orlando have also planned a similar event, “Vijay Sankalp”, an Indian election result watch party that will have food, beverage and Bollywood entertainment on offer.

Visa curbs affect students seeking loans to go to US

Rachel.Chitra@timesgroup.com

21.05.2019

With visa restrictions and other hurdles in place for migrant job seekers, the number of Indian students seeking entry into US institutions by securing a loan rose barely 5% year-onyear to 1.96 lakh in FY18, according to a report. In the Obama years in comparison, the numbers had gone up sharply between 2013-14 (1.2 lakh students) and 2016-17 (1.86 lakh).

America despite being the top destination for Indian students is not getting as many applicants as earlier, says the HDFC Credila survey. Number of student visas issued by US has fallen 40% to 42,694 in 2018 from 74,831 in 2015.

Interest in going to the US has dipped considerably since Trump came to power; instead loans to study in non-US markets grew at 20-30% in FY18. In the Obama era, loan disbursements to students travelling to US had grown 25-30%.

And it’s not just the US with its hostile policy regime, many are also steering clear of UK while they knock at the doors of institutions in Canada, Australia and Germany --which have a far more liberal climate.

From just 38,000 loans granted to students in 2014 to Canadian colleges, the number has more than quadrupled to 1.71 lakh in 2018. Destination Australia has also seen a massive hike in number of student loan grants with more than a 100% increase to 1.08 lakh. Germany saw a 83% increase in the last five years to 17,570 loans granted in 2018.

The UK, which has followed in the footsteps of the US in embracing an increasingly protectionist regime and anti-migrant rhetoric, has seen growth flattening in the last 5 years. The number of loans granted in 2014 (19,750) remained unchanged in 2018.

“Parents have started exploring various other countries for their higher education abroad which include Canada, Ireland, Australia, Germany, France, Netherlands etc,” said Ajay Bohora, co-founder and MD, HDFC Credila, which has disbursed ₹8,300 crore in education loans and seen 33% growth.

While it’s tough to land a visa and job in the US, there are still STEM students who want to pursue this route -- because of new developments, say industry players.

“Earlier, there was 65,000 H-1B visas and 20,000 for advanced degree students. Starting from the current year, the computer generated selection process will pick 65,000 from the entire pool of cap subjected H1B petitions. Those not accepted and eligible for the advanced degree exemption will be transferred to the master’s cap pool for a second chance at selection --that means international students with advanced degrees can try their luck at the H1B lottery twice,” says Bohora.

Another positive to trying one’s luck in the US, is the unemployment rate, which hit a historic low (not since the 1970s) of 3.6% -3.8%; the unemployment rate for those with bachelor’s degree or higher is 2.2% as of February 2019.

However, some countries which offer students more scope for securing a job, are proving to be more attractive destinations, say bankers. For instance Canada’s Student Partners Program (SPP), where students typically get a work visa of 3 years is a lure.

“We have seen number of student applicants increase for countries such as Ireland, Germany, France, Netherland, etc. We have also noticed a steady flow of students who prefer going to Australia, New Zealand etc. for courses, where fees are relatively lower in equivalent INR terms.”

But it is disheartening to note that only the upper creamy layer of students are able to secure loans. Indian banks reduced the number of students they were lending to 24.3 lakh in 2018 from 25.5 lakh in 2017.

HC dismisses NRI-sponsored student’s claim for admission to Medical course

By Adv. R.S Agrawal  18 days ago Latest News

April 21,2019:

Justice R.K.Deshpande and Justice S.M.Modak, at Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court rejected the claim of the writ petitioner Dr.Himandri Harish Warbhe, who is an NRI-sponsored student desirous of admission to the medical course, as her contention has been that she herself is not an NRI, but she is the candidate sponsored by NRI and, therefore, she cannot be prevented on the basis of clause 8.1 of the Guidelines for Granting Admissions in NRI quota. Medical College

It was urged that she can compete for a State quota seat for General Category in the colleges other than unaided, private and private minority institutions.

The Court has pointed out that the Rules provide definitions in Annexure”A”,. Clause (j) defines “Non-Resident Indian (NRI)”.The definition of NRI is extended to include his child or ward. The Court said that it has no doubt that the candidate sponsored by NRI shall also be included as child or ward of such NRI and prevention in Clause 8.17.2 shall apply.

Further, the petitioner has not challenged the definition and the Rule. Hence the petition is devoid of substance. Advocate U.S. Dastane appeared for the petitioner. GP Sumant Deopujari (State) and Adv. Nahusdh Khubalkar (CET Cell) represented the respondents.,

It is an undisputed position that in terms of the decision of the Apex-Court, 15% seats in the unaided, Private and Private unaided Private Minority institutions running medical courses can be made available. Such reservation  is not available in the colleges other than the Unaided Private and Private Minority Institutions.

High court relief to NRI PG medical aspirants

TNN | Feb 10, 2019, 07.50 AM IST 

JAIPUR: High court’s decision has come as a major relief for candidates seeking admission in PG medical courses on 15% NRI quota in the state. 

Hearing the case, double bench of justice Banwari Lal Sharma and MN Bhandari of Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur bench, ordered, “Admission in NRI quota for PG medical and dental courses would be governed by the prevalent rule.” The court heard the case filed by a private university of medical sciences and technology Jaipur versus State of Rajasthan, office of the chairman, NEET PG medical and Dental Admission/Counselling Board -2018.

Chairman of the medical university, Dr ML Swarankar said, “The prevalent rule was issued by the medical education department on August 24, 2011 stating that an NRI who undertakes to sponsor a student for admission as guardian, need not be a blood relation, hence the ‘ward’ in case of NRI admission means a candidate whose guardian is a bonafide NRI. ‘Ward’ does not mean related by blood.” Dr Swarankar said, “The court’s judgement can be seen as a major relief for students as it is not mandatory for a PG medical course aspirant to have blood relationship with an NRI for taking benefit of NRI quota.”

The court set aside the order passed in SB Civil writ petition on May 10, 2018, whereby the single judge had disposed of the writ petition of the petitioner student, while observing that the principles laid down by the honourable Supreme Court in writ petition titled as consortium of deemed universities in Karnataka versus Union of India, be applicable to all admissions including PG (medicine).

While setting aside the order passed on May, 2018, division bench ordered, “We find that litigation before the Apex Court is still pending in the case of consortium of deemed universities in Karnataka. The last para of the interim order is quoted hereunder for ready reference: It needs no special emphasis to state that the present order is only applicable to the deemed universities and no other category of institution.” The Apex Court had passed interim order, “As presently advised, the principles set out in Anshul Tomar (supra), shall be followed this year for the purpose of filling up of 15% NRI quota. Be it clarified, the NRI quota shall include overseas citizens of India (OCI) and persons of Indian origin (PIO).”

Justice Banwari Lal Sharma and MN Bhandari further ordered, “If any direction is given by the Apex Court in regard to such admission even for the university created by the state legislation, then it would be applicable to it.”

NEET admissions: States decide NRI, OCI and PIO status, says MCI

Somesh S Menon | 27th Apr, 2018 - 9:38 p.m. IST

NEW DELHI, April 27: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has informed the Supreme Court that the definition of NRIs, OCIs and PIOs with regard to admissions and reservations through NEET is determined by various state Governments as per their own laws. The Council further clarified that it has no specific provision under its own regulations to define whether or not Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) should be treated at par with Non Resident Indians (NRIs).

Case Background

The MCI was replying to a query from a two member Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices Uday Umesh Lalit and Arun Mishra, with regard to a petition filed by Shreya Joshi and others challenging the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulations of Admission and Determination of Fees) Act, 2006, later amended in the year 2017, as per which OCI and PIO candidates were to be considered under the NRI category when it came to MBBS and BDS admissions through NEET. As per the MCI reply, “...the reservation of seats for NRIs and the question as to who will be treated as NRIs and whether it includes OCIs and PIOs will be governed by the state enactment.”

What the rules say

According to the Graduate Medical Education Regulations (1997), the rules governing the various processes of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), admissions to MBBS and BDS seats in all Government, Private and Deemed Universities across India are to be done on the basis of NEET scores alone, including for NRI students. 15% of seats in the latter two institutions are specifically reserved for NRI candidates.

The arguments

As per arguments raised by the OCI petitioners, the Karnataka State Regulations were barring them from competing for the entirety of the 85% State Quota seats by falsely equating them with NRI candidates. The petitioners said that they were children of professionals who had settled abroad but were enjoying the status of Indian nationals on the basis of permanent visas issued to them. Whether to retain their Indian citizenship or acquire the citizenship of any other country would be a choice they could make after attaining 18 years of age. Until then, amendments to the Citizenship Act, 1955, gave them legal rights to seek admissions like any other citizen of the country. The definition of NRIs is made only the basis of the Income Tax Act. As such, the counsel for the petitioners asserted that PIOs and OCIs could not be treated within the category of NRIs.

In response, the counsel for the Karnataka Government argued that OCIs did not have the right to seek admission under Government Quota seats and get access to subsidised education. Endorsing the stance of the Government, the MCI also referred to a Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) dated July 28, 2017, which had placed NRIs, OCIs and PIOs in the same category and declared that these candidates could only apply for NRI quota seats and only Indian nationals could apply for management seats. The MCI also requested the Court to dismiss the petitions on the grounds that every State Government had the right to define NRIs, OCIs and PIOs in accordance with its own laws.

'ஆன்லைன்' ஓட்டு? தூதரகம் விளக்கம்

Updated : ஏப் 16, 2019 01:23 | Added : ஏப் 16, 2019 01:22

புதுடில்லி: 'லோக்சபா தேர்தலில், என்.ஆர்.ஐ., எனப்படும் வெளிநாடு வாழ் இந்தியர்கள், 'ஆன்லைன்' வழியாக ஓட்டளிக்க முடியாது' என, தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

'லோக்சபா தேர்தலில், வெளிநாடு வாழ் இந்தியர்கள், ஆன்லைனின் ஓட்டளிக்கலாம்' என்ற தகவல், சமூக வலைதளங்களில், வேகமாக பரவியது. இதற்கு, தேர்தல் ஆணையம் மறுப்பு தெரிவித்தது.

இந்நிலையில், ஐக்கிய அரபு நாட்டுக்கான இந்திய துாதர் விபுல் கூறியதாவது: லோக்சபா தேர்தலில், ஐக்கிய அரபு நாடுகளில் வசிக்கும் இந்தியர்கள், 'ஆன்லைனில்' ஓட்டளிக்க முடியாது. தேசிய வாக்காளர் சேவை தளத்தில் பதிவு செய்தவர்களின் பெயர், தொகுதியின் வாக்காளர் பட்டியலிலும் இருப்பது உறுதியானால், அவர்கள் நேரடியாக, தொகுதிக்கு சென்று ஓட்டளிக்கலாம். இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.

Low fare offers make travel to the US cheaper this summer

TNN | Apr 1, 2019, 06.59 AM IST

CHENNAI: A summer low fare sale introduced by Etihad Airways and Emirates and ticketing portals has brought down the air fare from Chennai to destinations in the US for travel in April and May.

Etihad’s offer of return fare starting at Rs 64,000 to the US is aimed at encouraging passengers who have not planned their trips to plan a holiday. But the offer has led to a general dip in airfare across airlines on the route.

The summer months are peak travel season as families travel to the US to meet relatives. There is a Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 decrease in the fare when compared to previous summer months because of the offer. As the airlines in the Middle East which fly via hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha are offering cheaper tickets, the cost of air travel to the US has come down compared to the airlines which fly via Europe or the UK. People need not spend more than a lakh to travel to the US this summer.

The starting return fare for is at Rs 67,000 to New York and Chicago, while it is at Rs 80,000 to Los Angeles and Rs 68,000 to Washington for travel in mid-April. These fares should have been higher by Rs 10,000 usually.

“Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways are most preferred by travellers from Chennai. Etihad and Emirates have an offer running which has led to a dip in fare. But because of high demand some of the best fare are not available on weekends,” said Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels. He said foreign airlines have started to introduce offers on routes from India to the US via the Middle East because the advance booking period window has reduced from six months to two months.

“People these days book tickets two to three months in advance on the route while there used to be long advance booking two years ago. The offers are being introduced because people did not book seats for travel in April and May well in advance this year, a trend different from last year. The fare cut will now cater to people who prefer to book tickets now for travel end of April or May.”

Flying by European airlines are not only expensive but the choice of hub is limited. After Dubai grew as a hub for transit to different destinations, European carriers have begun facing tough competition to attract passengers who travel to the US. Besides, the Middle Eastern countries have started to encourage travellers to make a stopover in Dubai or Abu Dhabi before proceeding to destinations in the US by offering easy transit visa.

Now, NRI doctors can apply for faculty positions at regional AIIMS

The regional All India Institutes of Medical Sciences that have come up in various states have joined the premium Indian Institutes of Technology in the hunt for foreign faculties.

Published: 16th February 2019 03:22 AM



For representational purposes

By Sumi Sukanya Dutta

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The regional All India Institutes of Medical Sciences that have come up in various states have joined the premium Indian Institutes of Technology in the hunt for foreign faculties.

Senior officials in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said a decision has been taken to allow NRI doctors, including Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders to apply for faculty positions in AIIMS institutions in several states.

There are 6 new AIIMS in Patna, Jodhpur, Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Rishikesh and Raipur that came into being in 2012. Four others in Raebareli, Kalyani, Nagpur and Mangalgiri Guntur have started with classes for small batches of MBBS students from 2018 academic session but except AIIMS, Raibareli, other are yet to begin even OPD services.

These AIIMS institutions have been planned with a view to provide quality government tertiary care in states on the lines of AIIMS, Delhi.

“At present, there are less than 60 per cent positions filled in 6 regional AIIMS institutions and recruitment of faculty is a major task,” a senior Ministry official told this newspaper.

“We have therefore now introduced measures like inviting retired professors from top health institutions, visiting faculty from abroad for up to 2 years and NRI doctors to come and join these institutions.”

Read more at Education Medical Dialogues: Blood Relation not mandatory: Raj High Court order comes as relief to NRI PG aspirants 

https://education.medicaldialogues.in/blood-relation-not-mandatory-high-court-order-comes-as-major-relief-to-nri-pg-aspirants/

Double whammy: Students return from US only to stare at loan burden

Sudipta.Sengupta@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:07.02.2019

After battling the trauma of detention, it’s the fear of being sucked into a severe financial crisis that’s come to haunt students from the sham University of Farmington — most of them from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh — who were forced to fly out of the US earlier this week. With little or no savings, and a bleak career ahead, these students fear that their families might even lose the bank guarantees, they had taken loans against, to travel to America. Worse, bank officials are now mounting pressure on them toclear thedebt assoon as possible, the amount ranging from anywhere from ₹20 lakh to₹40 lakh.

Speaking to TOI, these distraught students said they are now scurrying around to find jobs in Hyderabad, even if that means drawing meagre salaries of ₹15,000 to₹20,000.

“The branch manager called my father (an employee of a Nalgonda-based chit-fund company), soon after I returned, and told him to pay off the loan in the next four months. Else, they’ll forfeit our land that we gave as surety,” said L B Nagar-based Ramesh* who was arrested on January 29 and kept at a detention centre in San Josefor closeto48 hours. Ramesh went to the US in 2014, to pursue a master’s degree from the Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU). While he managed to work on an OPT (Optional Practical Training)for a brief while,earning $3,200 a month, he had to quit when the university’s STEM programme lost accreditation.

“Because my H1B application wasn’t picked in the lottery, friends suggested I enrol with Farmington and find another job under CPT (Curricular Practical Training). This was the best option because the feewaslow anditofferedinstalment facility. Little did I know that I’d end up in jail and be left with nothing ultimately,” said Ramesh, who has to pay ₹28 lakh (principal and interest).

Narayana* is sailing in the same boat. While he managed to escape detention, the Mahbubnagar boy had to return to India almost overnight, with ₹10 lakh loan (he paid a part of it) hanging over his head. His deadline: June 2019.

(*All names changed on request)

Not taking chances

Following the Farmington fiasco, Indian students enrolled with other US universities offering Day 1 CPT are also taking the next flight back. While there has been no crackdown on these varsities, students do not wish to take a chance. This despite, some of these universities issuing notifications assuring students about their being no legal issue with the institutions. TNN

We have to start our careers all over again in India. That means we’ll need to settle for a beginner’s salary, which won’t be enough to cover our EMIs. Now, I have to pay a monthly instalment of ₹52,000 towards my loan. I have no idea how I’ll do this. Our only hope is the central government

Prakash | STUDENT FROM HYDERABAD

Going abroad for studies? You may’ve to register with govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:06.02.2019

Indian students looking to study abroad may soon have to register with the government before they take that flight to their destination of choice for higher studies. The proposal is a part of the draft Emigration Bill 2019 which the ministry of external affairs (MEA) will introduce in Parliament once it has completed the process of feedback which it is seeking from the public.

Official sources said though that the bill out in the public domain since January 9 is not yet final and, depending upon public feedback, several changes could be made. The process of registration/ intimation by students is unlikely to be cumbersome as it will be done online, said officials familiar with the issue.

“The bill makes mandatory registration/intimation of all categories of Indian nationals proceeding for overseas employment as well as students pursuing higher studies abroad. Registration/ intimation is proposed to be technology/digital platform driven so as to keep emigration a swift, efficient and hassle-free process without causing any inconvenience to our workforce and students pursuing higher studies abroad,’’ says the proposed bill, adding that necessary provisions have been incorporated to exempt certain categories in this regard on a need basis.

India had earlier this year made similar registration mandatory for those seeking work in 18 countries – UAE, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Thailand, and Yemen. According to Indian officials, registration is not a tedious process and is only meant to protect the interests of Indian nationals.

According to the government, mandatory registration/intimation by students and Indian nationals working abroad are aimed at assisting them in times of distress and emergency and putting in place an “effective emigration management framework”. The bill, it says, aims at optimum utilization of existing resources and manpower rather than creating new elaborate structures.

The proposal is a part of the draft Emigration Bill 2019 for which the MEA is currently seeking public feedback

Fake US varsity paid Telugu hirers Rs 2.1 crore

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | COREENA SUARES
PublishedFeb 3, 2019, 12:26 am IST

The eight student recruiters had conspired to help at least 600 foreign citizens stay on in the United States illegally.

The eight reportedly earned $3,00,000 (around Rs 2.1 crore) through enrolment, a source based in the US told this newspaper.

Hyderabad: The eight recruiters from the two Telugu states, whom the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has charged with conspiracy in aiding at least 600 foreign citizens to illegally stay in the US, will be produced before a US criminal court on February 4.

The eight reportedly earned $3,00,000 (around Rs 2.1 crore) through enrolment, a source based in the US told this newspaper.

They face imprisonment. The US Homeland Security, in an undercover operation, created a fake university in Farmington Hills to lure foreign students who were trying to stay in the US illegally.

The eight, Barath Kakireddy of Florida, Suresh Kandala of Virginia, Phanideep Karnati of Kentucky, Prem Rampeesa of North Carolina, Santosh Sama of Califor-nia, Avinash Thakkalla-pally of Pennsylvania, Aswanth Nune of Georgia and Naveen Prathipati of Texas, worked like recruiters and helped portray the foreign citizens as students and got them enrolled into the fake university.

“Along with the attorneys and consulate diplomats, representatives of TANA visited the students who are currently lodged in 121 detention centres across the US,” said Mr Ashok Kolla, joint treasurer of Telugu Association of North America.

“Those detained are placed for deportation. The respective attorneys will be approaching the immigration judge for their voluntary departure notice on Monday. While they are lodged in different prisons, the attorneys have rendered legal advice. The messages from these students were conveyed to the Indian Ambassador to the US and an emergency message has been sent out, asking attorneys to come forward and help the detained,” Mr Kolla said.

He added: “Out of the eight students charged by ICE and facing criminal charges, one is lodged in the Tailor Municipality – Detroit, while the others are in different prisons. Out of the eight, five are from Telangana and three from Andhra Pradesh. They will be produced before the criminal court at 1 clock eastern time on Monday. Initially, the eight will be provided a public prosecutor. Also, the Indian Consulate general of Chicago will be meeting them on February 4.”

The Indian Consulate in Houston staff, along with an attorney and representatives of the North American Telugu Association, visited the detention centre at Dallas. Eight Indian students are currently lodged in Dallas prison. Seven of them are male and all from Hyderabad and Khammam in Telangana state and a few from Andhra Pradesh. The girl student is from North India. Attorney Geetha Tamana has rendered legal advice to those in Dallas

“For now, the attorneys have sought details of students and will be seeking voluntary departure from the Immigration Judge. Several students have already been served notices to appear before the immigration judge. Of the total detained, 80 per cent are Telugu,” said a source.

U.S. visa fraud: India demands release of students

Suhasini Haidar

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 03, 2019 00:00 IST

Worried about the condition of 129 Indian students arrested in the United States for visa fraud, the government issued a demarche to the U.S. Embassy in Delhi on Saturday, demanding that the students be released from detention and not summarily deported.

“Our concern over the dignity and well-being of the detained students and the need for immediate consular access for Indian officials to the detainees was reiterated,” an Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said, adding that it had urged the U.S. government to “release them from detention at the earliest and not to resort to deportation against their will.”

The MEA has set up helplines for all those arrested, currently in detention centres across states. Indian consulate officials in Texas met with detainees in San Antonio, Conroe and Alvarado, the consulate said.

Student visa racket spat gets ugly, Delhi issues ‘demarche’ to US govt

Nodal Officer Appointed To Supervise Assistance To Victims, Families

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Washington:03.02.2019

India and the United States stumbled into the most serious spat since the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York in 2013, with New Delhi making known its displeasure over the incarceration of scores of Indians who were ostensibly entrapped by US authorities in a sting operation aimed at uncovering an employment and immigration racket.

From issuing a demarche – a note of protest – to the US government via its embassy in New Delhi to establishing a hotline for the alleged victims in Washington and offering legal counsel, the Indian government initiated a series of measures on Saturday that left no doubt that it felt the purported students have been victimized. The Indian Embassy in Washington DC also appointed a nodal officer to supervise assistance to the victims and their families.

“Embassy of India, Washington and all five Consulates in the US [are] working closely together to help Indian students detained in the US,” the embassy said. More than 100 victims are under arrest – some in home detention and others at immigration processing centers – all over the US and the embassy is still trying to get a complete picture. New Delhi is also insisting that the students, who it says may have been sucked into the scam inadvertently, should be treated differently from the eight recruiters, who are also Indian.

But the US side is questioning the very description of the alleged victims as students, and maintains that they were fully aware that they were enrolling in a fictional university that had no proper campus or classes, and they were using it as a route to work authorization with intent to immigrate.

“Homeland Security Investigations special agents uncovered a nationwide network that grossly exploited US immigration laws. These suspects aided hundreds of foreign nationals to remain in the United States illegally by helping to portray them as students, which they most certainly were not. HSI remains vigilant to ensure the integrity of US immigration laws and will continue to investigate this and other transnational crimes,” Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis, who investigated the case, said.

Aside from the human aspects of the imbroglio, the situation is complicated by politics and hypernationalism on both sides with plenty of grandstanding and posturing.

The Indian side sees no wrong on part of the purported students, who are mostly from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, in an election season where politicians from the two southern states have already jumped on the issue to pressure New Delhi to act on behalf of the victims. On the US side too, the Trump administration is keen to show that it is tough on immigration, even if it means establishing a fake university to entrap students, a tactic see as dodgy by some critics.

On Saturday, officials from the Indian consulate in Houston visited the Prairieland Detention Centre in Alvarado, Texas and the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas to meet the incarcerated students and get their version of the episode. Many other students have been subjected to home detention with tracking devices, even as hundreds, perhaps thousands, of students are panicked over the crackdown.

MEA wants students to be treated differently from those who have duped them

Canadian gets back lost passport in hrs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:20.01.2019

A 30-year-old Canadian tourist who lost his passport and mobile phone in a call-taxi got them back within hours, thanks to the city police.

David Andrew Taller, of Toronto, Ontario in Canada, arrived in Mumbai on January 1 on a tourist visa and flew into Chennai on Saturday around 5am. He booked a taxi to a hotel near Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT).

After he got off the taxi, he realised he left his mobile phone and passport on the car seat and approached the Koyambedu police. CMBT sub-inspector Deepa who was on duty got in touch with the taxi driver and according to her instructions, the cab driver returned the valuables to personnel at the Koyambedu station around 9am. The police personnel handed over the valuables to Taller.

Taller had planned to stay in Chennai for a couple of days, visit Mamallapuram, before travelling further south to Madurai and Kanyakumari.

City police commissioner A K Viswanathan appreciated the swift action of police and the team which helped the foreigner has been called to receive a special reward from the top brass of the city police.

UK may remove cap on skilled migrants, Indians to benefit

Naomi Canton

London:20.12.2018

An unlimited number of highly skilled workers from India will be able to migrate to the UK after Brexit in proposals that mark the biggest overhaul of Britain’s immigration system in 40 years.

UK home secretary Sajid Javid published on Wednesday a much-delayed white paper setting out a new immigration system based on skills and talent, which would be nation-neutral. It announces the complete removal of a cap on the number of work visas issued — the current cap is 20,700 a year — and ends the requirement for resident labour market tests by UK employers in which businesses have to advertise positions to UK workers first.

Javid, the son of a Pakistani immigrant bus driver, said the proposals were “the biggest change to our immigration system in a generation”, ending the current dual system of admitting only highly skilled workers from outside the EU, and workers of all skill levels from the EU.

“We are taking a skills-based approach to ensure we can attract the brightest and best migrants to the UK,” he said, adding the measures would boost productivity and wages, and the economy.

The new skilled work visa route, which will be open to non-EU and EU citizens alike, will have an annual salary threshold in the region of £30,000 and require sponsorship from an employer, as tier 2 visas do.

Rules will benefit int’l students in UK

But there will be no resident market labour test and the new skilled route will include workers with intermediate level skills, such as A level, not just graduates. Those who come through this route will be able to bring dependants, extend their stay and switch to other routes and settle permanently.

The rules also extend the length of time that international students can stay in Britain to work after their degrees end, from four months to six months if they have a bachelor’s or master’s, and to 12 months if they have a PhD. But this falls short of the demand for a return to the two-year post-work study visa which Indian student bodies in the UK have been calling for.

After Javid outlined the proposals in the House of Commons, MPs raised concerns about the future supply of workers in agriculture, tourism, construction, and care provision, many of whom come from the EU but whose salaries do not meet the skilled route threshold.

The system will remain flexible as those on lower salaries may be excluded from the threshold if they are shortage occupations, and the home office was not ruling out sectoral labour schemes such as for seasonal agricultural work, Javid said.

The white paper also announces a new short-term workers scheme which will allow workers in lowerskilled jobs that do not meet the salary threshold of the skilled route to come to the UK for 12 months. They can switch employers during that period as no sponsorship will be required. However, they will not be able to extend it and it is unclear if Indians will be able to use this route. The white paper states: “This new route will only be available to nationals of specified countries, for example those low-risk countries with whom the UK negotiates an agreement concerning the supply of labour, including returns arrangements.”

The home office refused to comment. Employers will be responsible for checking prospective employees have a visa. This route does not entitle anyone to access public funds or rights to extend a stay, switch to other routes, bring dependants or lead to permanent settlement.

For full report, www.toi-.in

மனைவியை கைவிட்ட என்.ஆர்.ஐ.,க்களின் பாஸ்போர்ட்கள் ரத்து

Added : டிச 12, 2018 22:39 |






புதுடில்லி: மனைவியரை கைவிட்ட, என்.ஆர்.ஐ., எனப்படும் வெளிநாடு வாழ் இந்தியர்கள், 33 பேரின் பாஸ்போர்ட் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளதாக, மத்திய மகளிர் மற்றும் குழந்தைகள் மேம்பாட்டு அமைச்சகம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.இந்திய பெண்களை திருமணம் செய்யும், என்.ஆர்.ஐ., கணவர்கள், அவர்களை பாதியிலேயே கைவிட்டு விடுவதாக, வரும் புகார்கள் மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க, மத்திய அரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுத்தது.இதன்படி, கணவர்களால் கைவிடப்பட்ட இந்திய பெண்கள் அளித்த புகார்களில், இதுவரை, 33 என்.ஆர்.ஐ.,க்களின் பாஸ்போர்ட்கள் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன.மேலும், என்.ஆர்.ஐ., திருமணங்களை ஒரு வாரத்தில் பதிவு செய்தல் மற்றும் பதிவு செய்யாதவர்களுக்கு அபராதம் விதிக்கும் வகையில் திட்ட வரைவு தயாரிக்கப்பட்டு, மத்திய அமைச்சரவையின் அனுமதிக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது.

US proposes changes to H1B visas, to target most skilled, top paid workers 

PTI

Published Dec 1, 2018, 8:55 am IST

Under proposed rule, firms hiring foreign workers would have to electronically register with USCIS during designated period. 


The H1-B visa has an annual numerical limit cap of 65,000 visas each fiscal year as mandated by the Congress. (Photo: File)

Washington: The Trump administration on Friday proposed major changes to the H-1B application process with the aim of awarding the visa to the most skilled and highest paid foreign workers.

Under a new proposed merit-based rule, a notice for which was issued on Friday, companies employing foreign workers on the H-1B visa – under the Congressional mandated annual caps -- would have to electronically register with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) during a designated registration period.

The H1-B visa has an annual numerical limit cap of 65,000 visas each fiscal year as mandated by the Congress.

The first 20,000 petitions filed on behalf of beneficiaries with a US master's degree or higher are exempt from the cap.

The USCIS would also reverse the order allowing it to select H-1B petitions under the H-1B cap and the advanced degree exemption. This is likely to increase the number of foreign workers with a master's or higher degree from a US institution of higher education to be selected for an H-1B cap number. As such the proposed rule will be introducing a more meritorious selection of beneficiaries, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement. The DHS said public comments on the proposed rule can be submitted from December 3 to January 2.

"Currently, in years when the H-1B cap and the advanced degree exemption are both reached within the first five days that H-1B cap petitions may be filed, the advanced degree exemption is selected prior to the H-1B cap. The proposed rule would reverse the selection order and count all registrations or petitions towards the number projected as needed to reach the H-1B cap first," the DHS said.

Once a sufficient number of registrations or petitions have been selected for the H-1B cap, the USCIS would then select registrations or petitions towards the advanced degree exemption.

“This proposed change would increase the chances that beneficiaries with a master's or higher degree from a US institution of higher education would be selected under the H-1B cap and that H-1B visas would be awarded to the most-skilled and highest-paid beneficiaries,” it said.

The proposed process would result in an estimated increase of up to 16 per cent (or 5,340 workers) in the number of selected H-1B beneficiaries with a master's degree or higher from a US institution of higher education, the DHS said.

The USCIS said it expects that shifting to electronic registration would reduce overall costs for petitioners and create a more efficient and cost-effective H-1B cap petition process for the agency.

The proposed rule would help alleviate massive administrative burdens on USCIS since the agency would no longer need to physically receive and handle hundreds of thousands of H-1B petitions and supporting documentation before conducting the cap selection process, it said.

“This would help reduce wait times for cap selection notifications. The proposed rule also limits the filing of H-1B cap-subject petitions to the beneficiary named on the original selected registration, which would protect the integrity of this registration system,” USCIS said.

மனைவியை தவிக்கவிட்டால் பாஸ்போர்ட் ரத்து, போலீஸ் நடவடிக்கை, வேலையிழப்பு: ‘மனம்போல்’ வாழும் வெளிநாடு வாழ் இந்தியருக்கு எதிராக புதிய சட்டம்

Published : 28 Nov 2018 16:25 IST

புதுடெல்லி



மனைவியை இந்தியாவில் தவிக்கவிட்டு விட்டு வெளிநாடு தப்பிச் சென்று அங்கு மனம்போல் வாழும் வெளிநாடு வாழ் இந்தியர்களுக்கு எதிராக கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க மத்திய அரசு முடிவு செய்துள்ளது. இதற்காக நாடாளுமன்ற குளிர்கால கூட்டத்தொடரில் புதிய சட்டம் கொண்டு வரப்பட உள்ளது.

வெளிநாடுளில் வசிக்கும் இந்தியர்கள் பலர் இந்தியாவில் திருமணம் செய்துவிட்டு அவர்களை கைவிட்டுவிட்டு செல்லும் சம்பவங்கள் நீண்டகாலமாகவே நடந்து வருகின்றன. தெலங்கானா, ஆந்திரா, பஞ்சாப் மாநிலங்களில் இதுபோன்று வெளிநாடு வாழ் இந்தியர்களால் கைவிடப்படும் மனைவிகளின் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரித்து வருகிறது.


இந்தியாவில் மனைவியை விட்டு விட்டு அவர்களை விவாகரத்து செய்யாமல் தாங்கள் வாழும் நாட்டில் வேறு பெண்ணுடன் அவர்கள் சேர்ந்து வாழ்கின்றனர். இந்த விவரம் தெரியாமல் கணவன் வந்து தன்னை அழைத்துச் செல்வார் என்ற நம்பிக்கையுடன் பல ஆண்டுகளை பெண்கள் கழித்துவிடும் சூழல் உள்ளது.

குறிப்பாக ஏழை மற்றும் கல்வியறிவற்ற நிலைமையை பயன்படுத்திக் கொண்டு பெண்களை திருமணம் செய்து வெளிநாடு வாழ் இந்தியர்கள் கைவிடும் சூழல் இருப்பதாக மத்திய குழந்தைகள் மற்றும் பெண்கள் அமைச்சகம் கூறி வருகிறது.

இதையடுத்து இந்த முறைகேடுகளை தடுக்க புதிய சட்டம் ஒன்றை கொண்டு வர மத்திய அரசு திட்டமிட்டுள்ளது. நாடாளுமன்ற குளிர்கால கூட்டத்தொடரில் இதற்கான சட்டம் கொண்டு வரப்படும் என தெரிகிறது. இதுதொடர்பாக வெளியுறவு, உள்துறை, பெண்கள் மற்றும் குழந்தைகள் நல அமைச்சகம் ஆலோசனை நடத்தி வருகிறது.

இதுகுறித்து வெளியுறவு அமைச்சர் சுஷ்மா ஸ்வராஜ் ஹைதராபாத்தில் கூறியதாவது:

மனைவியை கைவிட்டுவிட்டு, வெளிநாட்டில் வசிக்கும் இந்தியர்களின் பாஸ்போர்ட் முடக்கப்படும். இதுபோன்ற புகாருக்கு ஆளாகுபவர்கள் தேடப்படும் குற்றவாளிகளாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டு வெளியுறவுத்துறை அமைச்சக இணையதளத்தில் தகவல் வெளியிடப்படும். அவர்கள் சார்ந்த மாநில போலஸாரால் நோட்டீஸ் வெளியிடப்பட்டு அதன் விவரம் அவர்கள் வசிக்கும் நாட்டுக்கு அனுப்பி வைக்கப்படும்.

இவை அனைத்தையும்விட, வெளிநாடு வாழ் இந்தியர்கள் வசிக்கும் நாட்டின் உள்ள இந்திய தூதரகம் மூலம் தொடர்பு கொண்டு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும். இந்திய தூதரகம் சார்பில் அந்த நாட்டு அதிகாரிகள், அவர்கள் பணிபுரியும் நிறுவனத்துடன் தொடர்பு கொண்டு தகவல் தெரிவிக்கப்படும். இதன் மூலம் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட வெளிநாடு வாழ் இந்தியர் மீது கடுமையான நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும். இவற்றுக்கு வழிவகுக்கும் வகையில் புதிய சட்டத்தில் விதிமுறைகள் இடம் பெறும் .

இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.