Latest news with #GreenCard
4 hours ago
- Politics
Newlywed Palestinian woman released from ICE custody after months in detention
Ward Sakeik -- a stateless Palestinian woman who was detained on her way back from her honeymoon -- has been released from ICE detention nearly five months after her arrest, her husband confirmed to ABC News. Sakeik, who is married to a U.S. citizen, was arrested at the St. Thomas Airport in the U.S. Virgin Islands in February. "The Trump administration's brazenly unconstitutional attempt to deport this young woman in violation of a federal court order should shock the conscience of every American. Had we not intervened, she may very well be in a foreign country right now, separated from her family like so many others illegally deported to third countries," Eric Lee, Sakeik's attorney, said in a statement Wednesday. The government had attempted to deport Sakeik twice -- the first of which was to Israel just hours before it launched its attack on Iran in June. The second attempt to deport her was made despite a federal judge ordering that she remain in the northern district of Texas and not be removed from the U.S. Sakeik's family is from Gaza, but she is legally stateless and has lived in the U.S. since she was 8 years old. Her family had traveled to the U.S. on a tourist visa and applied for asylum, according to Shaikh. Sakeik was issued a deportation order more than a decade ago after her asylum case was denied, but she was permitted to stay in the U.S. under what's known as an "order of supervision," in which she was given a work permit and regularly checks in with federal immigration authorities, according to her attorney and her husband. The first stage of her Green Card application was approved last week, according to her husband, Taahir Shaikh.
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Business Standard
12 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
US to levy 1% remittance tax: What it means for NRIs and students
The US Senate on Tuesday passed President Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act', bringing with it a new tax on overseas money transfers by non-citizens. The legislation, which takes effect on July 4, 2025, introduces a 1 per cent levy on remittances made through cash, money orders, or cashier's cheques. The rule will apply to anyone who isn't a US citizen—including Green Card holders, people on temporary visas such as H-1B or H-2A and foreign students. 'For example, if you send $1,160—or around ₹100,000—to your parents in India, you may have to pay ₹1,000 more in tax,' said Rajarshi Dasgupta, executive director – tax. 'That money will be collected by the remittance provider—be it Western Union, MoneyGram or a bank—and passed on to the US government every quarter,' he told Business Standard. In a relief for Indians, the tax rate was originally set at 5 per cent, but was reduced to 1 per cent in the final version of the Bill. Why it matters to India? Remittances play a key role in India's foreign income. According to the World Bank, India received $129 Billion in international remittances in 2024—the highest in the world. Mexico was second with just over $68 Billion. Nearly 28 per cent of India's remittance inflows in 2023-24 came from the United States alone. Several Indian states, including Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, rely heavily on these funds for household income. But there's been a recent shift in the pattern, particularly when it comes to money sent by students abroad. Remittances from students on the decline Funds sent by resident Indians under the Reserve Bank of India's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) fell 6.84 per cent to $29.56 Billion in 2024-25, down from $31.74 Billion the previous year. The steepest drop was seen in money remitted for education abroad. According to the RBI, these remittances fell 16 per cent—from $3.48 Billion to $2.92 Billion. 'Tighter work authorisation policies and recent visa rule changes in the United States have significantly disrupted traditional patterns of student mobility, with a direct impact on remittance flows,' Prof Venkataramanan, pro vice-chancellor at FLAME University told Business Standard. He added, 'Canada's move to cap study permits and require provincial attestation letters, alongside stricter financial documentation, has raised the entry threshold for students. The United States has paused visa interviews and announced aggressive visa revocations targeting certain nationalities. These factors are making families rethink the scale of investment in foreign education.' Families are more cautious about education loans and remittances Prashant A Bhonsle, founder and CEO of Kuhoo Finance, said the uncertainty around post-study work options is a growing concern for parents. 'Students and parents are questioning the return on investment when career security abroad becomes uncertain,' he told Business Standard. Visa processing delays are adding another layer of difficulty. 'For students still in India, delayed visa approvals mean postponed tuition and living expense payments. For those already abroad, uncertainty about their future makes them hesitant to send money back home,' Bhonsle explained. According to Pavan Kavad, managing director at Prithvi Exchange, recent visa policy changes in the UK and Australia are also linked to the remittance dip. 'Developed economies are facing employment challenges amid recession fears. Families are waiting for more clarity before transferring large sums abroad,' he said. Indian institutions and banks adjust to the shift Venkataramanan pointed out that some Indian banks and financial institutions are already adapting. 'Public and private banks are seeing more staggered disbursals of education loans instead of upfront payments. Families are aligning payments with semester confirmations, often waiting for visa approvals before committing,' he said. NBFCs and fintech firms, he added, are also reporting a drop in high-value remittances. Meanwhile, Bhonsle noted that tighter financial documentation rules abroad have made it harder for families to demonstrate the funds required for visa approvals. 'This has created larger upfront commitments that not all families can meet easily,' he said. Trust in the visa system is faltering Beyond the rules themselves, trust appears to be the larger issue. 'In the US, social media scrutiny, visa delays, and the new remittance tax all contribute to the sense that studying abroad is more financially risky,' Kavad said. That perception is prompting Indian families to either delay their plans or look at domestic alternatives. 'The slowdown has led financial institutions to take a more cautious and adaptive approach,' said Venkataramanan. 'We may be in a transitional phase rather than a terminal decline. If visa clarity improves and financial processes become more predictable, the flows could recover. Until then, families will continue to explore more stable options.'
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vikrant Massey saw his mother standing in line at hospital to submit his father's mediclaim papers. What the 12th Fail actor did next stunned everyone
Vikrant Massey , who began his journey in the entertainment industry as a teenager on television, has carved a distinct path with his thoughtful film choices. Over the years, he has transitioned into one of Bollywood's most respected performers, known for his emotional depth and authenticity. His recent role in 12th Fail only further cemented his status as an actor who values storytelling over stardom. Taking Charge of Family Responsibilities In a recent heart-to-heart conversation with Rhea Chakraborty on her YouTube talk show, Vikrant opened up about the weight of responsibility that comes with earning. He shared how, at one point in his life, he decided to stop relying on banks and insurance companies for support. Feeling capable enough to shoulder everything on his own, he asked his parents to avoid claiming any medical or financial aid, as he believed he could manage all expenses for the family without external help. A Heartfelt Moment at the Hospital Vikrant recounted a deeply emotional incident that reinforced this decision. His father had been hospitalized due to a heart condition while Vikrant was out of town. His wife, Sheetal Thakur, who was not yet married to him at the time, stepped in and accompanied his father to Hinduja Hospital . When Vikrant arrived at the hospital, he was moved to see his mother quietly waiting in a queue with a folder tucked under her arm, preparing to initiate the insurance claim process. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like La Lotería de la Green Card está cada vez mas cerca: No se pierda este año la aplicación Green Card Lottery Experts Solicita ahora Undo Disturbed by the sight of her standing in line for financial aid, he immediately approached her, took the documents, and tore them up on the spot. He urged her never to do that again, expressing his commitment to taking full financial responsibility for the family. 'I took that paper, and I tore it and I said, 'Don't ever do that. Let's go'. I mean, that's also a privilege,' he stated. For Vikrant, that moment symbolized not just monetary stability but the emotional strength and pride of being able to support his loved ones unconditionally. Learning the Cost of Superficial Impressions Vikrant also spoke about the challenges he faced early in his career, especially the pressure to present a polished image. As a newcomer, he believed it was necessary to impress producers and directors at social gatherings. This led him to spend extravagant amounts — sometimes as much as Rs 60,000—on renting branded clothing just for a night. However, this phase was short-lived. His wife, Sheetal, who was managing the household budget at the time, wasn't pleased with the spending. Vikrant eventually realized that dressing up in costly designer wear made him feel uneasy and inauthentic. Constantly worried about damaging the rented outfits, he admitted that the experience felt forced. He chose instead to return to his true self, understanding that genuine talent speaks louder than appearances. Stepping Into Romance With Newfound Confidence Now, Vikrant is preparing to enter new territory with Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan , his first full-fledged romantic drama . Directed by Santosh Singh and backed by Mini Films, the movie marks an exciting new chapter in his career. Interestingly, Vikrant admitted that he was once hesitant to take on romantic roles. When he first started acting, his taste leaned toward unconventional cinema, and no romantic scripts felt convincing or inspiring. However, as his career evolved, he became more open to exploring different genres. With Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan slated for a July 11 theatrical release, audiences will see a fresh side of Vikrant on screen. The film also introduces Shanaya Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor's cousin, in her debut role, adding to the anticipation around this new-age love story.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Severe floods experienced in Beas river following heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi
Severe floods were experienced in the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi following heavy rainfall on Wednesday. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert regarding the same. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) confirmed that all dams across the state are currently functioning within safe operational limits, as per the latest status report issued at 7:00 AM, as per an official release. According to the HPSDMA's daily dam status report, "The current pond levels of all dams are within the permissible operational limits." Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like La Lotería de la Green Card está cada vez mas cerca: No se pierda este año la aplicación Green Card Lottery Experts Solicita ahora Undo The data includes key reservoirs across the Satluj, Beas, Ravi, and Yamuna basins, indicating no immediate threat from reservoir overflow despite widespread rainfall and flooding incidents in several districts, the release said. Karcham Dam (Satluj basin) recorded an inflow of 869.17 cumecs, with a spillway outflow of 410.21 cumecs and machine flow at 477.99 cumecs. Live Events Nathpa Dam received an inflow of 915 cumecs, releasing 512.26 cumecs through spillways. Kol Dam, currently at a pond level of 637.59 m against a Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 642 m, recorded a high inflow of 1231 cumecs, discharging 734 cumecs via machine flow. Pandoh Dam (Beas basin) saw an inflow of 826.59 cumecs, with a combined spillway and machine outflow of 673.5 cumecs. Larji Barrage recorded an inflow of 734.14 cumecs and released 457 cumecs through spillways and 234.13 cumecs through turbines. The HPSDMA noted temporary shutdowns at a few locations due to high silt content: Baira HEP was shut down at 7:00 AM due to high silt levels. Plants like Sainj Barrage and Parbati-II remain in shutdown status. Malana-II HEP continues to remain non-operational since August 1, 2024, following flash floods, with the dam gates kept open as a precautionary measure. A spokesperson from the disaster authority reiterated: "There is no cause for alarm concerning dam safety across Himachal Pradesh as of this morning. Continuous monitoring is in place, and precautionary releases are being managed to avoid downstream flooding." Despite severe weather impacts, including flash floods and cloudbursts reported in Mandi and other districts, dam levels have remained under control, aided by the timely regulation of inflows and machine discharges. Authorities continue to monitor rainfall and reservoir data in real-time to coordinate any preventive evacuation or flow regulation as required.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
एच1बी, Students, Green Card Holders 2025 के लिए बड़ा अपडेट
नेहा उपाध्याय Authored by: | Navbharat Times• 1 Jul 2025, 3:49 pm New 1% Remittance Tax for NRIs in the USA? | एच1बी, Students, Green Card Holders 2025 के लिए बड़ा अपडेट
