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Time of India
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Education associations file amended lawsuits as international students continue to face ‘unlawful' SEVIS termination
This is an AI-generated image, used for represntational purposes only. The 'unlawful' practices of terminating SEVIS records of international students based on visa revocations and alleged criminal histories continue, even as many records have been reactivated following lawsuits and favourable injunctions by district courts. In this backdrop, the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, a coalition of over 570 campus leaders, together with the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM), has filed an amended lawsuit-complaint in the district court. It updates the original lawsuit-complaint submitted on April 24. These associations are challenging the unlawful mass termination of SEVIS records for F-1 students and participants in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. The lawsuit-complaint states that the US Department of State (DOS) has also misled affected students, and continues to do so, by sending emails falsely claiming they must leave the US immediately, even though visa status governs entry, and is inapplicable to whether an already-admitted student may remain in the country. DHS has since formalised a policy allowing SEVIS record terminations based on visa revocations, continuing this unlawful practice, it adds. Through this amended complaint, the associations are primarily asking the court to do three things: Hold unlawful and set aside the policy under which the mass visa revocations were carried out, and enjoin the government from using this practice again; Order the government to stop sending false and coercive emails to international students; and Hold unlawful and set aside the policy that purports to permit the termination of SEVIS records based solely on visa revocation. Miriam Feldblum, President and CEO of the Presidents' Alliance, stated, 'We are asking the court to prevent the government from engaging in similar actions in the future and to hold the agencies accountable for these unprecedented and damaging practices. The actions of the government have created chaos and fear. Even students whose SEVIS records have been reinstated continue to face uncertainty, unanswered questions about their education and career prospects, and ongoing vulnerability under the new policy. ' ' Colleges and universities have faced academic disruption, administrative burdens, and reputational harm, all of which compromise their ability to support international students. This instability jeopardises global talent recruitment, threatens academic freedom, and places undue strain on campus systems. Through this amended complaint, higher education is standing together to defend the rights and contributions of international students and scholars, whose presence, innovation, and ideas strengthen our communities and grow our economy,' she added. Rob McCarron, President and CEO of AICUM, stated: 'Our overarching goal for this litigation is to ensure due process, and that any changes to the SEVIS program be done in full compliance with statutory and regulatory procedures. More than 80,000 international students travel to Massachusetts to pursue a higher education, adding vibrancy and innovation to our campuses and often founding startups in Massachusetts. Providing due process, proper notice, stability and clarity – to students and the institutions that serve them – is critical so that everyone fully understands what needs to be done to enroll in a college or university in Massachusetts.' A joint release points out the significant role played by international students. In the 2023-2024 academic year alone, international students contributed approximately $44 billion to the US economy and supported more than 3,78,000 jobs. Yet policies like the one challenged in this lawsuit threaten to undermine our ability to attract and retain top global talent, harming not only individual students and campuses but also long-term economic strength, innovation capacity, and national security. Through this legal action, the higher education community reaffirms its commitment to international students and scholars.
USA Today
a day ago
- Politics
- USA Today
As an immigrant, I don't expect shortcuts. Birthright citizenship is our right.
Trump's executive order reflects growing hostility toward all immigrants, regardless of how they arrived. The national rhetoric has grown more cynical and suspicious to all foreigners. 'Welcome home.' That's what a border protection agent said to me after a recent vacation. His words struck a chord with me because he acknowledged that the United States was my home. The irony of the situation being that I am not a U.S. citizen, I am an immigrant. As an immigrant, I often wonder whether I'm truly accepted in the country where I've spent the past 21 years of my life. Now the decision by the Supreme Court on President Donald Trump's birthright citizenship executive order makes me question that even more. Trump ordered an end to automatic citizenship for those born here ‒ unless at least one of the child's parents is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. And while the court's June 27 ruling didn't deal with the birthright citizenship question directly, their 6-3 decision lifted a temporary block on the president's unjust order. That order was the latest attempt to alienate immigrants and erase the immigrant history that built this nation. It undermines the idea that any immigrant, legal or not, can ever truly belong in America. Opinion: Supreme Court takes on birthright citizenship – but that's not the real case When I immigrated to this country as a child, I was once welcomed with open arms and integrated into the culture. However, for years, it's felt like my country has been slowly closing its doors to immigrants like me. While attacks on undocumented immigrants have often dominated the headlines, legal immigrants have been quietly targeted as well through backlogs, unnecessary barriers and, more recently, executive actions. Aging out of legal immigration visa My family immigrated to the United States when I was 5 years old on the H-1B visa. My father was invited to work here because of his skills in IT, and we eventually settled in Pittsburgh. Like many immigrant families, we built a life here. I went to school, made friends and followed the typical American path. That path eventually led me to Pennsylvania State University, where I earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. But on my 21st birthday, I aged out of my parents' immigration status because as far as immigration rules were concerned, I wasn't a child anymore. In a cruel twist of fate, four months later my parents received their green cards. That small gap meant they would become permanent residents, while I was forced to start over from the back of a broken immigration system. Opinion: I joked about getting deported. In Trump's America, it's not funny. I first realized that I was different from my friends in high school when I wasn't allowed to get a job and help support my family. In college, this realization became even more apparent when I had to switch to an F-1 student visa and had to legally prove that my 'home' address was in India, not in Pittsburgh where I lived with my family. Once I graduated and wanted to enter the workforce, I was denied most job opportunities ‒ not because I am unqualified, but because companies could not or would not sponsor immigrants. Every piece of paperwork I filed had to be absolutely perfect. Something as minor as a technical error on the immigration forms could have, and once nearly did, jeopardize my entire immigration status. Because of that four-month gap, I will continue to be treated as a visitor in the only country I have ever known and called home. Growing hostility toward immigrants I share this to make a simple but important point: Despite what the headlines might suggest, legal immigration is anything but easy. When the Biden administration announced in 2024 protections for Dreamers who as kids were brought to the United States illegally, I questioned the omission of children like me who continue to be left behind. Trump's executive order reinforces this message of exclusion by taking it even further and signaling that none of us belong here. Although the executive order does not apply directly to me, because I was born in India, it could have changed everything for my younger brother, who was born in Detroit. If this executive order had been in effect when he was born, he would not have been granted citizenship and he would be just like me, stuck in limbo and questioning his sense of acceptance. The executive order reflects the growing hostility toward all immigrants, regardless of how they arrived. Over the past decade, the national rhetoric has grown more cynical and suspicious of all foreigners. Immigrants are increasingly portrayed as threats, as job takers and outsiders, even when we are contributing to industries America depends on or are the only ones willing or capable of performing a job. I do not expect a shortcut. I do not expect special treatment. But I do expect the country that I love to treat me and people like my brother as if we belong here. Because this country was founded by immigrants, and her promise should still include all of us. Tanay Raje graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He is now working as an engineer at a sterile pharmaceutical company in Philadelphia. Tanay is also a member of Improve the Dream, one of the more than 250,000 children of long-term visa holders, raised and educated in America.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Building AI Teams: How To Develop An Immigration Infrastructure
Founder of Alcorn Immigration Law, Sophie Alcorn, helps tech and entrepreneurial talent navigate U.S. immigration for visas and green cards. AI is everywhere. Entire tech stacks are developed around AI and automation to get more done with less. Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Meta alone are expected to invest more than $320 billion combined in AI development this year, and the need for team experts is on the rise. Headcounts and teams grow around the best AI talent, which often requires hiring holders of F-1 visas (for academic students), H-1B visas (for specialty workers) or O-1 visas (for people with an "extraordinary ability or achievement"). Your internal processes for immigration may work well for one-off hires. But as teams become global, you need to build streamlined processes from day one. As the founder of an immigration law firm, let's explore how growing companies can develop a system that helps attract and retain the top immigration talent. 1. Build a talent funnel. Talent funnels keep your prospective employee pipeline full. Identify how you'll attract employees to your business before worrying about scalable systems and frameworks. One starting point is seeking international students in the U.S. Students from around the world come to the U.S. to study AI and machine learning at prestigious schools. (Note: This is a shifting landscape. At the time of this writing, some U.S. universities have faced challenges to their international student programs, and new student visa interviews have been paused, so organizations should stay up to date on how policies surrounding student visas may change.) You can recruit F-1 visa holders from these institutes with the help of: • Optional Practical Training (OPT): Eligible students can apply for 12 months of OPT that is directly related to their major area of study. • STEM Optional Practical Training: A 24-month extension is available to certain degree holders in STEM fields. Both OPT and STEM OPT can be a low-risk option for companies looking to hire talent from respectable universities. International student hiring can quickly fill your pipeline, so treat it as an asset rather than a problem. I recommend beginning immigration onboarding before graduation with an intern-to-full-time-hire workflow. STEM OPT regulations require strict adherence to compliance requirements and proactive tracking. The Department of Homeland Security has a Form I-983 overview to follow that can help your business stay on track in hiring this talent. A 'cheatsheet' of requirements is: 1. Keep Form I-983 data up to date and outline the student's learning goals during employment. 2. Report material changes quickly if changes are made to the student's work location or job duties. 3. Supervise and mentor the student to help them grow professionally. Conduct performance reviews. Organizations that are serious about building AI teams at scale should then transition into step two of this guide. 2. Go beyond OPT. The H-1B lottery is just that: a lottery. Not everyone will be picked. However, if you plan, you can be prepared and ready to act. Typically, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) opens the H-1B filing window in March for a limited duration. Results of the lottery are usually announced shortly after the closing date. On top of this short window of opportunity to register, tech companies must consider that H-1B visas are capped at 65,000. Other visas you might be able to pursue include: • Cap-exempt H-1Bs: Certain nonprofit organizations, government research organizations and higher education institutions may be exempt from the H-1B visa cap. Planning by structuring roles at qualifying organizations means you can pursue these visas at any time of the year. • O-1 visas: For standout AI talent, the O-1 visa may be a viable option. You can file a petition (Form I-129) and provide a consultation, contract, evidence of the candidate's eligibility and other documentation. • Concurrent H-1B visas: If you're hiring a foreign worker who already holds an H-1B visa, you may be able to file for concurrent H-1B employment to avoid sponsorship delays. To prepare for these alternative tracks, consider this question every time you evaluate a new hire: Do we need to sponsor them now or later? Then, proceed to build your systems accordingly. 3. Build scalable systems and frameworks. To build AI teams at scale, think beyond visas. Think scalable systems and solid frameworks that aid in long-term planning and compliance. Here's how to get started: Assign ownership to each step of the immigration process. Whether it's HR, your hiring manager or the legal department, delegating responsibilities can ensure accountability, reduce the risk of errors and keep your processes moving smoothly. Centralize documentation. Make critical documents such as public access files, offer letters and labor condition application (LCA) tracking easily accessible in one location. Schedule automated reminders for renewals, document expiration and deadlines. This can help you avoid crises and minimize disruptions. Implement a PERM-ready hiring track. Ensure job descriptions, prevailing wage data and recruitment logs are prepared to avoid bottlenecks in the recruitment process. Have standardized start times. This helps minimize the risk of attrition for those you're sponsoring. To win the AI talent war, start thinking big-picture. The AI sector is fiercely competitive. China produced almost half of the world's "top-tier AI researchers" in 2022, while the U.S. accounted for just 18%, according to MacroPolo. Nearly two dozen countries have launched visa programs aimed at tech entrepreneurs in recent years, making the landscape even more competitive. Tech companies that plan and invest in immigration infrastructure can not only attract and retain foreign AI talent but also stand out in the crowd. A solid framework could also appease investors and acquirers who want not only a product-market fit but also team mobility. I believe immigration is one 'big picture' way to help yourself win the AI talent war. Companies should think beyond one-off hires and create scalable, repeatable systems that allow them to attract and retain the world's top talent. However, to ensure your company is in compliance with immigration law, ensure you work with an experienced immigration lawyer who can help you build the appropriate infrastructure. The information provided here is not legal advice and does not purport to be a substitute for advice of counsel on any specific matter. For legal advice, you should consult with an attorney concerning your specific situation. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Visa applicants, beware! US Embassy in India issues new warning - 'Omitting social media information could lead to...'
The United States (US) Embassy in New Delhi Thursday directed all visa applicants to stipulate details of all their social media handles from the past five years for background checks -- failure to comply could lead to visa rejection, the embassy said. This comes close on the heels of the United States' decision to require all student visa applicants to make their social media accounts public for vetting purposes. "Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used in the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit," the embassy said in a statement on X. "Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas," it added. Citing "national security and public safety," the US had on Monday stated that all applicants for student visas must make their social media accounts public. 'Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to 'public' to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law,' the US Embassy in New Delhi had said on Monday. The F-1 visa is issued to students pursuing academic studies, while the M-1 visa is for those enrolled in vocational or other non-academic programs. The J-1 visa, on the other hand, is granted to individuals participating in teaching, studying, research, or on-the-job training programs, typically lasting from a few weeks to several years. Last month, the Trump administration directed all US consulates around the world to stop conducting new interviews and accepting applications for student and exchange visitor visas. At the same time, US officials accused the Biden administration of allowing poorly vetted migrants into the country and claimed the system was full of fraud. In response, they announced stricter checks, including reviewing the social media activity of people applying to move to the US. Now, US consular officers will carefully check applicants' online activity. They will look for anything considered concerning — such as posts showing hostility toward American citizens, values, culture, institutions, or the country's founding principles. This change comes as the US Department of State begins requiring social media checks before granting visas.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Indian F-1 visa applicants: Reveal all social media usernames from 5 years
Indian students applying for a US student visa will now face stricter screening requirements, with consular staff warning of possible denials if social media details are left out of the visa form. The US embassy in India posted on X on Thursday, 'Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit.' In the same thread, the embassy cautioned that, 'Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.' Privacy settings must be public Earlier this week, on June 23, the embassy issued another notice specifically for student and exchange visa categories. 'Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to public to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law,' it said in a post. This advisory follows the resumption of F-1 student visa processing in India after a brief suspension earlier this month. The restart comes with more intensive background checks, including a closer look at online presence. DS-160 form must now be submitted before booking slots In another procedural change, applicants now have to complete and submit the DS-160 form before scheduling an appointment. Previously, it was possible to book an interview slot and then finish the form later. That has now been reversed. 'The recent updates to the US visa application process, particularly concerning the DS-160 form and appointment scheduling, are designed to enhance the overall efficiency and security of the system,' said Varun Singh, managing director at XIPHIAS Immigration, speaking to Business Standard. 'By requiring applicants to complete the DS-160 form prior to scheduling an appointment, the US Department of State ensures that consular officers have access to accurate and complete information ahead of interviews.' DS-160 barcode number must match appointment Applicants also need to double-check that the barcode number on the DS-160 confirmation page matches the number used to book the appointment. If there's a mismatch, they'll be turned away from the interview and must reschedule using the correct form. This correction cannot be made by consular staff. 'It's important for applicants to ensure that the DS-160 confirmation number matches the one used to schedule their appointment,' said Singh. 'If discrepancies are found, applicants will need to reschedule their appointments using the correct DS-160 barcode number, as consular sections cannot modify or update these numbers on behalf of applicants.' What's changed for Indian F-1 visa applicants • Must list all social media usernames from past 5 years on DS-160 • F, M, J visa applicants asked to keep profiles public for vetting • DS-160 must be submitted before scheduling appointment • Barcode on form must match booking or interview will be cancelled • Applicants must reschedule if details don't match; embassy can't fix it Why the changes matter • Cuts down on fake or duplicate bookings by requiring completed forms first • Allows consular officers to review full data ahead of interview • Reduces last-minute mistakes in application details • Aims to prioritise serious and eligible applicants for limited interview slots
