India responds boldly as Trump drops 2nd tariff hammer over Russian oil with 'they don't care' post
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India.com
27 minutes ago
- India.com
US-India ties to worsen further?, Trump warns Indians over THIS issue: 'Respect the terms of...'
US-India ties to worsen further?, Trump warns Indians over THIS issue: 'Respect the terms of...' US-India ties: Issuing a stern warning to visa holders from India, the Donald Trump administration has issued a stern warning about the over staying in the United States. It also made clear that any violation could lead to visa revocation and possible deportation. This may further deteriorate both countries ties amid the tariff war. In a post on X the US Embassy said, 'Respect the terms of your US visa and your authorized period of stay in the United States. Remaining in the United States past your I-94 'Admit Until Date' can lead to severe consequences such as visa revocation, possible deportation, and ineligibility for future visas. Overstaying may permanently affect your ability to travel, study, or work in the United States.' What the Congress said? Marjorie Taylor Greene, Congresswoman from Georgia's 14th District in a post on X said, 'End Indian H1-B visas replacing American jobs instead and stop funding and sending weapons to the Obama/Biden/Neocon Ukraine Russia war.' Her remarks came while referring to the latest statement by US President Donald Trump, who on Monday said that the United States will 'substantially raise' the tariff paid by India for buying 'massive amounts of Russian Oil', stating that much of the oil purchased from Moscow is being sold in the open market 'for big profits'. Trump wrote on Truth Social, 'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!' What US said about India purchasing Russian Oil? India has defended its sovereign right to conduct energy policy based on national interest. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday came out strongly in defence of the country's decision to import oil from Russia, despite criticism from the United States and European Union. According to the MEA, India's imports from Russia are driven by necessity and aimed at ensuring predictable and affordable energy costs for Indian consumers. The MEA described the criticism of India's trade policy as 'unjustified and unreasonable,' asserting that India will take necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.
Hindustan Times
27 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Donald Trump's new visa crackdown blocks trans athletes under ‘fairness in sports' order
In a controversial policy change, the Trump administration moved to deny US visas to transgender women athletes seeking to compete in women's sports, stating that 'Men do not belong in women's sports'. According to Trump's administration, the rationale behind the move is to protect the integrity, safety, and fairness of women's athletics.(REUTERS) The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced this week that it has updated its guidelines to restrict access to certain elite visa categories, including O-1A visas for individuals of extraordinary ability and employment-based immigrant visas (E11, E21), to biological women only. According to the new policy, male-born athletes, including transgender women, will be considered ineligible if their goal is to compete in women's sports in the US. Also Read | After Donald Trump threatens India with tariffs, lawmaker's advice to President The update directly responds to Executive Order 14201, titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," signed by President Trump earlier this year. "Men do not belong in women's sports. USCIS is closing the loophole for foreign male athletes whose only chance at winning elite sports is to change their gender identity and leverage their biological advantages against women," said USCIS Spokesperson Matthew Tragesser. "It's a matter of safety, fairness, respect, and truth that only female athletes receive a visa to come to the US to participate in women's sports. The Trump Administration is standing up for the silent majority who've long been victims of leftist policies that defy common sense," he said. Also Read | Manish Tewari slams Donald Trump's 'bullying' over tariffs, asks Centre to show 'spine' The rationale behind the move, as per officials, is to protect the integrity, safety, and fairness of women's athletics. The policy update also redefines how USCIS evaluates the accomplishments of foreign athletes. It states that any notoriety gained from competing against women as a transgender woman will be seen as a negative factor in visa consideration, even if those athletes have achieved international recognition. Under the revised guidance, the agency has made clear that it will not consider transgender women's participation in women's sports as contributing to the US national interest. Trump imposes global barrier for trans athletes This policy marks the first time that gender identity has been directly cited as grounds for denying entry into the United States under the immigration system. Legal analysts say the move is likely to trigger a wave of lawsuits, especially if visa petitions are denied explicitly based on gender identity, raising potential constitutional and international human rights concerns. Trump signed the order in February Trump signed the "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" order in February to protect opportunities for women and girls to compete in safe and fair sports. "It is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy. It shall also be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women's sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth," the White House stated.
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First Post
27 minutes ago
- First Post
Rs 13-lakh bond to enter US? How Trump's new visa rule could affect tourists
The US may soon ask applicants for select business or tourist visas to pay up to $15,000 (around Rs 13.2 lakh) as a security bond. The rule would apply to travellers from countries with high visa overstay rates and poor internal document security. Those who overstay their visas would forfeit the bond, while travellers who follow the rules would get the amount refunded read more The move comes as the Trump administration continues to tighten visa requirements for foreign applicants. Reuters/File Photo The US could soon require applicants for certain business or tourist visas to pay up to $15,000 (nearly Rs 13.2 lakh) to enter the country. The move, which may make the procedure unaffordable for many, is aimed at curbing visitors who overstay their visas in the US. ALSO READ | Has Trump made US world's worst tourism destination this year? According to a Federal Register notice, the programme gives US consular officers the authority to impose bonds on visitors from countries with high rates of visa overstays. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As per regulations from the US Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, tourists and business travellers would get their bonds back only when they leave the US, become naturalised citizens, or die. But why is the move being implemented? Which countries will be affected? How will the process work? We answer all these questions below: US visa bonds: What you need to know In a notice, the US State Department announced that it will launch a 12-month pilot programme in which applicants from countries with high visa overstay rates and weak internal document security may be required to pay bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 when applying for a visa. According to an official document obtained by The Washington Post, the programme aims to 'protect America's borders and the American people by holding foreign visitors accountable for departing the United States on time.' Travellers who do not leave the US before their visa expires will lose their bond, while those who follow visa rules will get their money back. The move is aimed at curbing visitors who overstay their visas in the US. Reuters/File Photo 'Aliens applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure and who are nationals of countries identified by the department as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient, or offering citizenship by investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement, may be subject to the pilot programme,' the notice said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Until now, consular officers already had the power to impose bonds on visa applicants, but the State Department's official Foreign Affairs Manual had stated that 'such bonds will rarely, if ever, be used,' according to the notice. The online notice will be published in the print edition of the Federal Register and is expected to come into effect on August 20, according to The New York Times. The move comes as the Trump administration continues to tighten visa requirements for foreign applicants. Which countries will be affected? The bonds will apply to travellers from countries with very high visa overstay rates. The official notice has not named any specific countries or explained how visitors would be able to claim their refunded bond when leaving the United States. ALSO READ | Is Trump's 'polarising rhetoric' driving tourists away from US? The US State Department has said that the list of affected countries will be announced on the ' website at least 15 days before the pilot programme begins. A State Department spokesperson told Reuters that countries will be selected based on 'high overstay rates, screening and vetting deficiencies, concerns regarding acquisition of citizenship by investment without a residency requirement, and foreign policy considerations'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The department has not provided an estimate of how many applicants might be impacted. Notably, Donald Trump has made tackling illegal immigration a key focus of his presidency. In June, he issued a travel ban that fully or partially blocks citizens of 19 countries from entering the US on national security grounds. Many of the countries named in Trump's travel ban also have high overstay rates, including Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Myanmar, and Yemen, Reuters reported. The US Travel Association, which represents major companies in the tourism sector, has estimated that the visa bond pilot programme is likely to be limited in scope, affecting around 2,000 applicants, mainly from a small number of countries with relatively low travel volumes to the US. Several African countries, including Burundi, Djibouti, and Togo, also recorded high overstay rates, according to data from US Customs and Border Protection for the 2023 fiscal year. The US Travel Association also warned that the fee could deter travel, stating that 'if implemented, the US will have one of, if not the highest, visitor visa fees in the world.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Is US facing decline in tourism? The announcement comes at a time when the US is seeing a notable drop in tourism. According to The Guardian, the country recorded an 11 per cent fall in foreign visitors in March. The tourism sector is expected to lose billions of dollars this year as a result of the Trump administration's policies. Travel from Canada and Mexico has dropped by 20 per cent year-on-year, according to the US Travel Association. The US is seeing a notable drop in tourism. Reuters/File Photo There have also been growing reports of tourists and visitors with valid visas being detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice). Recently, users on social media described Las Vegas as a 'ghost town' after photos and videos showed empty roads and once-crowded casinos. According to a Wall Street Journal report, tips for service workers in the city have dropped by 50 per cent due to the fall in tourism. With inputs from agencies
