Latest news with #Parikh
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Business Standard
16 hours ago
- Business Standard
US visa doesn't guarantee entry: Minor red flags can led to deportation
Bags packed, passport in hand, flight tickets checked, and finally the visa in order... now you're all set to head to the United States. But here's what many travellers overlook: Holding a valid US visa doesn't guarantee entry. The real decision happens at the airport. According to the US Department of State, a visa simply allows a foreign national to travel to a US port of entry and request permission to enter the country. The final decision rests with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offifcers at that entry point. 'They can deny entry even with a valid visa if they suspect the traveller is attempting to enter for unauthorised purposes, such as working without authorisation or staying longer than permitted,' the US government says. What the officer might check Once you land, CBP officers can ask about your travel plans, your visa category, and even check your digital footprint, including your social media activity. Abhisha Parikh, a US-based immigration lawyer, shared a post on social media explaining how minor digital traces can trigger suspicion. 'Let's say you said you're coming for vacation. But you've been browsing jobs on LinkedIn, or following US recruiters. That could raise red flags about your true intentions,' she said. If they suspect something's off According to Parikh, things can escalate quickly if the CBP officer isn't convinced by your responses. 'If the officer suspects you plan to: – Stay longer than allowed – Work without permission They can deny you entry — even with a valid visa,' Parikh said. She added that this situation is not rare. 'This happens. Often. People are turned away at the airport every day. It's stressful, frustrating — and sometimes permanent, depending on how the denial is handled.' Tips to avoid being sent back Parikh advises that travellers make sure their personal narrative aligns with the type of visa they've been issued. Her advice: < Know your visa type < Be consistent in your responses < Avoid sending mixed signals (especially online) 'Your visa is your ticket to try — but not your guarantee to enter,' she said. What the US government says The US government has also addressed these concerns in a publicly available FAQ. If you're unsure whether you might be admissible, they recommend getting professional help. 'Before you travel, if you have any concerns about your admissibility, you should seek legal counsel. CBP cannot provide legal advice to members of the public,' the US government says. What if you're denied entry? If found inadmissible at the port of entry, several outcomes are possible. One is being placed into removal proceedings. In some cases, the officer might allow you to withdraw your application for admission voluntarily. A finding of inadmissibility can also affect future entries—and might even lead to your visa being cancelled.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Surat man deported from Zurich after agent forges visa documents
Surat : Five visa agents from Nadiad and Ahmedabad allegedly cheated a Surat-based visa consultancy firm and 13 of its clients of Rs 65 lakh in a fraudulent work permit racket involving Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. The complainant, Aryan Shaikh, who runs a visa consultancy with partner Pratik Ahir in the Parle Point area, came across an Instagram ad for Shree Overseas Consultancy. After contacting the number listed, they connected with Sandip Parikh, who claimed to run the firm based in Petlad (Kheda) along with his wife Gita Parikh. He promised work permits and visas to countries like the UK, US, Canada, and New Zealand for Rs 14.5 lakh per client. Trusting the Parikh couple, Shaikh began forwarding client documents in March 2024 — starting with seven files for UK and New Zealand, followed by a Canadian visa application for a client named Vanrajsinh Rathod, for Rs 18 lakh. Over time, Shaikh shared details of 13 clients and paid Rs 86 lakh in total. However, most receipts provided by the Parikhs turned out to be forged. Despite repeated assurances, no valid visas were arranged. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cargo Ship Meets Pirates - Watch What the Captain Does Next! Tips and Tricks Undo Matters escalated when Rathod, scheduled to travel to Canada on April 27, 2025, was deported from Zurich airport, his transit point before flying to Canada after Swiss immigration flagged tampered documents provided by the accused. His Canadian visa was cancelled, and the embassy was notified of the forgery. The scam severely damaged the Surat firm's reputation. Though the Parikh couple returned Rs 21 lakh, Rs 65 lakh remains unpaid. Umra police have registered a case against Sandip and Gita Parikh, and their associates Rohit Kacha Patel, Jaimin Shah and Sameer Vora.
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Internal Microsoft memo details plans for major update to its flagship coding service, as AI-powered rivals gain ground
Microsoft is working on a major upgrade of its flagship software-development product Visual Studio, a sign the tech giant is responding to intense competition from new AI coding tools, according to an internal memo viewed by Business Insider. Microsoft has a free, open-source code editor called VS Code that rivals such as Amazon and Windsurf have used to build competing developer tools. Visual Studio, meanwhile, is a paid Integrated Development Environment, or IDE, that offers more features to help developers write, debug, edit, and deploy code — and manage entire projects. Jay Parikh is the relatively new executive who leads Microsoft's CoreAI organization, which oversees developer tools including Visual Studio. Parikh emailed his team in April, describing plans for the "next major release" of the product, which he called "Visual Studio 18." Business Insider viewed a copy of the memo. The last major upgrade to Visual Studio was released in 2021. Microsoft has been working on this new version for a while already. The company started "early dogfooding," where tech employees test their own products, to prepare for a general release, according to the memo. Parikh didn't disclose a timeline for the release, but a Microsoft blog earlier this year dropped a hint. "Stay tuned for more details later this summer about what's coming next for Visual Studio," the post stated. The new Visual Studio will be packed with AI features, partly in response to rival services that are more AI-focused, according to a person familiar with the plans. Please help BI improve our Business, Tech, and Innovation coverage by sharing a bit about your role — it will help us tailor content that matters most to people like you. Continue By providing this information, you agree that Business Insider may use this data to improve your site experience and for targeted advertising. By continuing you agree that you accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Microsoft's AI coding assistant, GitHub Copilot, recently lost share in a key part of the developer market to Cursor, according to data cited in recent note from Barclays. Amazon just launched its own IDE called Kiro. Business Insider reported earlier this year that Amazon designed Kiro to tap into AI agents to analyze user prompts and existing data, generating code in "near real-time." Microsoft said it provides regular updates to the current version of Visual Studio, which is version 17 (not version 18 that Parikh described in his memo). For example, in July, the company rolled out a revamp, 17.14.9, that added new AI features, such as support for Anthropic's latest models and updates to Model Context Protocol, or MCP, an industry standard that helps models connect with external data sources.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
5 faulty flyovers, but action taken only in 1 in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad: Despite recurring structural and safety issues in five major flyovers built in the last decade by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda), municipal authorities on Thursday took action in only one case — the Hatkeshwar flyover. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On Thursday, AMC's standing committee approved the demolition of the Hatkeshwar flyover in Khokhra, just five years after its Rs 34 crore construction. This marks the first such demolition in the city's 152-year civic history. The remaining four cases continue without punitive action against contractors or consultants, raising serious concerns over accountability and public safety. Deputy municipal commissioner Mirant Parikh confirmed that the Hatkeshwar bridge will be dismantled from the pile cap bottom level at a cost of Rs 3.90 crore. "The process will take six months, and the cost will be recovered from Ajay Eng Infra Pvt Ltd, the original contractor, by withholding payment for the Pallav Junction flyover in Naranpura," said Parikh. AMC has blacklisted both the contractor and the project management consultancy, suspended four officials, and initiated inquiries — measures almost absent in other similar cases. A series of structural failures and quality lapses have repeatedly raised questions about oversight, accountability, and long-term safety in public infrastructure projects executed by the two civic bodies. In 2015, a portion of the Khokhra Railway flyover collapsed, injuring one person, yet no formal investigation into negligence was carried out. Two years later, Auda's Vakil Saheb flyover developed a significant pothole days after opening — again, with no punitive action taken. In 2021, the slab of the under-construction Mumatpura flyover collapsed, but no significant action has followed, even after four years. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Likewise, in July 2022, a pothole appeared on the Khodiyar Container Overbridge on SG Highway, but there was no public disclosure of any disciplinary measures. In yet another case, Auda's Rs 96 crore Sanathal flyover on SP Ring Road developed potholes merely three months after its May 2023 inauguration. Though resurfacing work was ordered, no penalties were imposed on the contractor. Flyover Faults Persist, Action Remains Rare 1. Khodiyar Container Overbridge (July 2022): A large pothole appeared under the Khodiyar Container Overbridge just a year after opening, exposing soil erosion likely caused by drainage leakage. Temporary fixes were applied, but no investigation, penalties, or repair audits were made public. 2. Mumatpura Flyover Slab Collapse (Dec 2021): A slab of the under-construction Auda's Mumatpura flyover collapsed in Dec 2021. Though an inquiry was initiated, no report was released. The contractor resumed work despite an order that he won't be allowed to participate in Auda tenders for three years, facing only limited restrictions. 3. Vakil Saheb Flyover, Bopal (2017): Days after its inauguration, a major pothole appeared on the Vakil Saheb Flyover. Auda dismissed it as minor and unrelated to structure. No inspection report was released, and the contractor faced no penalties or blacklisting. 4. Khokhra Railway Flyover Collapse (Oct 2015) The 50-year-old Khokhra Railway Flyover partially collapsed, injuring one person. Though it was later rebuilt at Rs 75 crore, no inquiry was conducted into why the deteriorating structure remained operational or how the collapse occurred. BOX 2 Tumultuous decade (2015-2025) Project Overview: Cost Rs 34 crore; Contractor: Ajay Eng. Infra Pvt Ltd Work order issued : April 2015 Construction completed : Oct 2017 Structural Issues: Six cracks appeared between 2017 and 2022; a major crack in July 2022 led to its closure. The bridge has remained shut for three years Material Testing: Core cutting tests in Mumbai and Ahmedabad labs showed only 20% compression strength Official Action: AMC issued over 10 notices to the contractor and PMC SGS India Pvt. Ltd.; SVNIT, Surat recommended demolition Expert Review: A panel including an IIT Roorkee professor and two consultants reviewed the case; pillar strength was also tested Accountability : AMC blacklisted the contractor and the project management consultant (PMC), approved cost recovery, and filed a police complaint in April 2023 Demolition Plan: Tenders for demolition and reconstruction (Rs 51 crore) were floated in March 2024; approved on July 10, 2025 after multiple failed attempts
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
After Vadodara incident, Ahmedabad civic body to inspect bridges that are over 15 years old
Two days after the collapse of the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge over river Mahisagar, which has claimed 20 lives so far, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has decided to prioritise inspection of all bridges in the city that are more than 15 years old. An announcement in this regard was made by the Standing Committee Chairman, Devang Dani, and Deputy Municipal Commissioner Mirant Parikh on Friday. In a video posted on social media handles of the civic body, Parikh said that there are 92 bridges in Ahmedabad that are used regularly for vehicular movement. 'Officials from the Bridge Project Department will first carry out visual inspections of all such bridges. Wherever necessary, immediate repair work will be carried out to ensure structural safety. Within the next week, structural stability certificates will be obtained through consultants, and a detailed assessment report will be compiled,' he said. On the 92 bridges, 38 bridges, including flyovers and river bridges over the Sabarmati, built in or before 2010 will be inspected. According to Parikh, as per the periodic annual inspection routine, a government-approved agency conducts structural checks of bridges. Based on these inspections, minor repair work is regularly carried out. According to the latest periodic inspection, minor repairs have already been done. Work on the Ellisbridge, which is a heritage structure, is on, Parikh said. Similarly, following a review, minor repairs were recently carried out on the Chimanbhai Patel bridge, which connects to the 132-feet Ring road, Parikh said. 'According to Road & Building guidelines, periodic inspections are mandatory. However, as an extra precaution, AMC has decided to identify all river bridges, which are old, for conducting load tests. Load tests are generally done after construction before a bridge is issued an NOC (No-objection certificate). AMC now wants to recheck whether these old bridges can still carry the load they were originally designed for. This step is being taken as a proactive measure to avert any incident like this (the Gambhira collapse) in the future,' Parikh said in the video posted on the AMC's X handle. Besides bridges, the civic body is addressing the issue of waterlogging in the East, South, North, and Central zones through the Eastern Trunk Line project. This will help divert excess water to the river and sewage treatment plants (STPs). The project is nearly complete, with only pipe-fitting and welding work pending. It is expected to be operational in the next 2-3 days, he added. Similarly, in the West, North-West, and South-West zones, drainage issues are being addressed through the Western Trunk Line project. Water from Vaishnodevi to Fatehwadi will be diverted via STPs. Due to micro-tunneling and technical challenges, the Western Trunk Line project has been delayed by a month but is expected to be completed soon, Parikh said. Till then, in peripheral areas, including AUDA zones like Bopal, Ghuma, and Shilaj, excessive water will be diverted through the completed portion near Fatehwadi. (Jay Jani is an intern with The Indian Express)
