US VISA RULES
Australia doubles foreign student visa fee in effort to curb migration
Australia has raised visa fees for international students starting July 1, from A$710 to A$1,600, aiming to manage record migration and housing market pressure. The changes also prevent visitor visa holders and temporary graduate visa students from applying for student visas within the country. The move is part of a strategy to create a fairer migration system and address loopholes in student visa rules that have led to a significant increase in subsequent visas.
Federal court revives lawsuit against US government over fake university scam
US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has reinstated a proposed class action lawsuit involving 600 students defrauded by fictitious university in student visa scam. The lead plaintiff, from India, seeks to recover funds paid for enrollment, highlighting government's commercial activity. DHS not immune from lawsuit, marking significant legal victory.
H-1B and L-1 visa workers may cost US employers thousands of dollars more
Employers may soon have to pay additional fees to extend work visas for foreign employees under a new DHS proposal. The proposal includes a $4,000 fee for H-1B visa extensions and a $4,500 fee for L-1 visa extensions.
World Cup 2024: All the visas that will let you play for the US cricket team
Many have remarked that few players on the host team are truly nationals of nations like India and Pakistan, and even fewer are recently naturalised citizens, as the Men's T20 World Cup 2024 is currently taking place in the United States. Which visas or immigration routes allow you to represent the United States cricket team?
Study in US: An expert answers your biggest F-1 visa questions
International students on F-1 visas face challenges related to OPT, DSO approval, STEM OPT extension, I-20 updates, SEVIS records, reinstatement, financial documentation, green card applications, driver's license requirements, visa status management, USCIS filings, crowdfunding limitations, and SSN applications.
Is it a good idea for laid off H-1B workers to switch to a US tourist visa, and back again?
When laid-off H-1B workers consider transitioning to B-1/B-2 visitor status for job searching, they gain valuable time and a streamlined process back to H-1B, endorsed by USCIS. This strategic move offers a safety net and opportunity for a successful career transition in the U.S.
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US updates rules for correcting errors in family-based immigrant visa petitions
New procedures clarify handling of approved petitions with unclear beneficiary preferences, promoting more efficient processing. USCIS will use discretion based on evidence of beneficiary location to determine processing route. Petitioners can contact USCIS to correct errors or update Form I-130 information.
UK tightens student visa rules but keeps Indian students' favourite graduate route intact for now
The UK's Graduate Route scheme, popular with Indian students for post-study work, remains safe for now, though it will be "kept under review," as the government announced new proposals to tighten student visa regulations to prevent misuse for immigration. The measures follow a 10% fall in net migration, welcomed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The Home Office highlighted a 25% drop in visa applications due to stricter rules on family dependents and plans to regulate international student recruitment to crack down on rogue agents.
Visa fee hike hits IT cos; Airport cab fares set to rise
Happy Friday! The hike in H-1B visa fee will hurt IT service companies severely, experts have warned. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Steep H-1B fee hike to burn a big hole in IT companies pockets
The steep hike in US H-1B visa fees could spell bad news for Indian IT service providers and dent their pockets significantly, experts and industry insiders have warned.
Ankush Aggarwal returns to Ola Cabs; declining H-1B visas for IT staff
Happy Tuesday! Ola Cabs founder Bhavish Aggarwal’s brother Ankush is back at the ride-hailing business. More on this in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Former Google techie offers survival tips for H-1B visa holders amid layoffs
A former Google software engineer, who is a Chinese national on an H-1B visa, is sharing advice on LinkedIn for fellow tech immigrants on how to navigate job loss. Having experienced a layoff at Amazon previously and sensing potential job cuts at Google, he decided to take proactive steps to prepare for the possibility of being laid off. He emphasized the unique challenges faced by H-1B visa holders during layoffs, where securing a new sponsoring employer is crucial for maintaining legal status in the country.
Decoding why Amazon & Google suspended green card applications
Amazon and Google have reportedly paused green card applications due to increased difficulty in the process, as reported by TOI. According to Business Insider, both companies stopped accepting PERM applications in 2023 and may not resume them soon. Alphabet-owned Google and Amazon halted the certification process in 2023. Google employees have been informed that the company will not restart PERM processing until at least Q1 2025, as per a memo from a current employee. Similarly, Amazon announced it would pause new PERM filings throughout 2024.
H-1B visa applications drop by almost 40% as US tightens rules for skilled workers
H-1B visa lottery applications dropped 40% due to measures against fraud. Rules restrict multiple entries, ensuring fairness. Major tech firms employ visa holders, but critics raise concerns about wages and labor protections.
How Trump would crack down on US immigration in a second term
Trump pledges to address illegal and legal immigration by enforcing border policies, mass deportations, travel bans, and changes to legal immigration. He aims to tighten security, restrict entry, and overhaul existing programs if re-elected.
In line of fire: US campus protests a stress test for Indians
Tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have caused disruptions on US campuses, leaving Indian students and their parents anxious. Some students participating in protests have been detained, while others face challenges such as switching to online classes.
India can speak about its own visa policy: US on Australian journalist's claim on visa denial
The US refrains from commenting on India's denial of visa renewal to Australian journalist Avani Dias, who faced election accreditation issues and left on election day, while India refutes her misleading allegation and confirms visa extension approval.
Visa revoked due to employer fraud? H-1B holders can now take legal action
A US district court has ruled in favor of H-1B visa holders, affirming their right to legal action if their visa is revoked due to employer fraud via multiple filings. Ten Indian citizens filed the lawsuit after their visas were cancelled for similar reasons. The court recognized the beneficiaries' right to notification before revocation, addressing a procedural violation by the USCIS.
Visa fees for international artists to tour in the US shot up 250% in April. It could be devastating
Visa fee surge for global musicians in the U.S. raises concerns. Costs jumped post-April 1. Indie bands face financial strain. U.S. music culture at risk. International acts may decrease, impacting the music industry and cultural exchange.
Indians with pending EAD applications stand to benefit with extended validity tenure
According to the USCIS, while processing times have reduced significantly over the past year, if the 540-day automatic extension rule was not announced, nearly 8 lakh EAD renewal applicants would have faced a lapse in their employment authorisation and nearly sixty-eighty thousand American employers would have been negatively impacted. Immigration experts point out that hundreds of EAD applications of Indian spouses of H-1B visa holders are caught in the processing backlog.
US court denies plea to postpone immigration fee hikes; H-1B visa, Green Cards to become costlier from April 1
A US district court has denied delaying April 1 immigration fee hikes, impacting American employers. Plaintiffs wanted postponement until lawsuit resolution. USCIS clarifies fee updates, affecting EB-5 investors. USCIS faces legal challenge over fee rule's lawfulness.
H-1B visa lottery conducted, USCIS begins sending out notifications to successful applicants
US completes H-1B selection for FY 2025, notifies myUSCIS accounts. Indians secure 70% visas. Transition to lockbox. New Form I-129 edition, updated fees effective April 1, 2024. No grace period after deadline.
US says your H-1B visa application will be rejected if you don't follow these new rules
The United States closed the FY 2025 H-1B cap registration period, with USCIS to select beneficiaries for filing H-1B cap-subject petitions. USCIS changed the filing location for H-1B and H-1B1 petitions starting April 1, 2024. New fees and Form I-129 edition are in effect. USCIS introduced online organizational accounts for H-1B filings.
Are immigrants the secret to America's economic success?
The author discusses the impact of immigration on the U.S. economy, emphasizing its positive contribution to economic growth. Despite concerns raised by some politicians, evidence suggests that immigration has not led to job displacement or wage reduction for native-born workers. Instead, immigrants often complement the skills of native workers and contribute to expanding the economy's productive capacity.
India needs to relax visa rules to lure more tourists, says Agoda CEO
"What's fascinating is that a lot of searches are coming from beyond the usual markets for India like the US and Middle East. A lot of people from Asian countries like Japan are finding India fascinating," he said. Indians are travelling abroad like never before, taking advantage of airfares and hotel rates on a par with domestic travel and free visas offered by many countries. However, inbound travel remains below pre-Covid-19 levels recorded in 2019, despite growing after the pandemic, according to tourism ministry data.
H-1B visa registrations begin March 6; US says it's working on cutting processing times, green card backlogs
The initial registration period for the FY 2025 H-1B season will open on March 6 and run through March 22. In order to electronically register beneficiaries for the selection process during this time, potential petitioners and their representatives must use a USCIS online account and pay the registration cost.
Will US elections ring in change in the visa regime for Indians?
US politicians are discussing changes to H-1B visa regime as immigration becomes a major issue in the upcoming November election. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has expressed anti-immigration sentiments, while President Joe Biden proposes more flexible rules. Tech companies will be impacted by the changes, including fee hikes and stricter eligibility requirements.
Decoding US' rule allowing STEM students on OPT to work for startups
The process of STEM OPT extensions is relatively straightforward, but the rules for working for startups can be perplexing. Under the STEM OPT program, employers must pay their employees a base salary equal to or greater than those paid to other similarly employed US workers. This salary requirement protects both the US workers and the STEM OPT students.
Immigration Wrap 2023: H-1B revamp, student visa changes & costlier applications for the US
According to the US Embassy and Consulates in India, Indians now represent over 10 per cent of all visa applicants worldwide, including 20 per cent of all student visa applicants and 65 per cent of all H&L-category (employment) visa applicants.
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