Latest news with #StevenBrown
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Fife based business recalling jam after allergy declaration
A popular Fife based preserve company is recalling some of its jams due to an undeclared allergen. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Sarah Gray's branded Raspberry and Prosecco Jam and Strawberry and Champagne Jam is being recalled due to containing sulphites, which is not mentioned on the label. According to Food Standards Scotland, various sizes and makes of the jam are being recalled as the products contain sulphites making them a possible health risk for anyone with a sensitivity to sulphur dioxide or sulphites. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A product recall has been issued | - Advice to consumers if they have bought these products is to not eat them and return them to the store at which they were purchased for a full refund. The list of recalls are as follows: Sarah Gray's Raspberry and Prosecco Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including 07 October 2026 Sarah Gray's Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including 18 September 2026 Sarah Gray's McCoo Preserves Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including 18 September 2026 Sarah Gray's McCoo Preserves Raspberry and Prosecco Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including 07 October 2026 Sarah Gray's McCoo Preserves Raspberry and Prosecco Jam, 125g, all dates up to and including 07 October 2026 Sarah Gray's McCoo Preserves Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 125g, all dates up to and including 18 September 2026 Sarah Gray's Steven Brown preserves McCoo Three Jar Gift Set, 375g, all dates up to and including 07 October 2026 Royal Yacht Britannia Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including 18 September 2026 Royal Yacht Britannia Strawberry and Champagne Jam,35g, all dates up to and including 18 September 2026 House of Bruar Raspberry and Prosecco Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including 07 October 2026 House of Bruar Raspberry and Prosecco Jam, 45g, all dates up to and including 07 October 2026 House of Bruar Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including 18 September 2026 House of Bruar Strawberry and Champagne Jam, 45g, all dates up to and including 18 September 2026 Elie Deli Raspberry and Prosecco Jam, 330g, all dates up to and including 07 October 2026
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
No More Easy US Visas? America Tightens Rules – Kids, Senior Citizens To Face Interviews; Indians Hit Hard
Washington, D.C.: Starting September 2, getting a U.S. visa is about to get a lot tougher for many. The U.S. State Department has rolled out major changes to to handle immigrant visa interviews. The new rules are raising alarms, especially among Indian applicants. Under the new system, children under 14 and seniors over 79 will no longer be automatically exempt from in-person interviews. Only a few specific visa categories and renewals will get that privilege. For everyone else, including B1/B2 and H-1B applicants, showing up for a consular interview could become mandatory even if they have held a visa before. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) says that the revised guidelines are meant for strengthening national security. But the changes are also expected to slow down the entire process. More people. More interviews. Longer waits. For Indian families, the timing could not be worse. The Indian community makes up one of the largest groups of non-immigrant travellers to the United States, including students, tech professionals, business visitors and families on vacation. Many are already dealing with long delays for visa appointments. The new system could make the process even more unpredictable. Based in Houston, Immigration Attorney Steven Brown says that the change is sweeping. 'I think they are essentially ending dropbox eligibility for most categories. That means longer queues, more appointments and a lot less efficiency for renewals,' he said. Brown did not hold back when it came to the rules requiring children to appear in person. 'The idea of interviewing children for visas is absurd,' he said. Certain diplomats and official visa categories, such as A, G, NATO and TECRO E-1 applicants, are still exempt. But most travellers will now have to make that trip to the consulate, wait for an appointment and prepare for in-person questioning. The policy reversal replaces the more lenient approach adopted in February 2023. Back then, exemptions were broader and aimed at easing the backlog caused by COVID. Now, under a renewed push for tighter screening, those flexibilities are being rolled back. A State Department spokesperson said consular officers may still exercise discretion, depending on the case or local conditions. But that does not change the core of the policy, which demands most of the people to show up in person. Officials linked the move to broader concerns about global security. The Donald Trump administration has supported the change, arguing that the current environment calls for stricter checks. Personal risk assessments and face-to-face scrutiny are back in focus. Applicants are being advised to check the U.S. embassy or consulate website for updated procedures, as rules may vary slightly depending on location. Visa seekers should prepare for a longer and more hands-on process. With India at the center of this shift, thousands of families, students and professionals could soon find themselves stuck in queues, waiting for a slot that used to be optional and is now non-negotiable.
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
US visa interview rules set to get tougher from 2 September; here's how it may impact your visa application
The US Department of State has made new changes to strengthen security in its non-immigrant visa interview waiver programme, which will be implemented from 2 September, 2025, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) press release. It will lead to delays in appointments, Houston-based immigration attorney Steven Brown stated. The non-immigrant visa categories consist of tourist and business visas (B-1/B-2), student visas (F and M), work visas (H-1B), and exchange visas (J). Diplomatic visas come under categories A and G. The new guidelines stated the majority of non-immigrant visa applicants, comprising those under the age of 14 and over the age of 79 will be required to undergo compulsory consular interviews. However, exceptions apply to certain categories, including A-1, A-2, C-3 (excluding attendants of officials), G-1 to G-4, NATO-1 to NATO-6, TECRO E-1, and individuals holding diplomatic or official visas. A notable exception applies to individuals renewing a full-validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa, or a Mexican Border Crossing Card/Foil, provided the renewal is done within 12 months of the previous visa's expiration. To qualify, the applicant must have been at least 18 years old at the time the original visa was issued and must apply from their country of nationality or residence. However, they must also have no prior visa refusals (unless overturned or waived) and no apparent or potential ineligibility. Even in such cases, consular officers retain broad discretion to require an interview on a case-by-case basis. Even when interview waivers are available, consular officers still have the discretion to require an interview on a case-by-case basis for any reason. This policy overrides the Interview Waiver update issued on 18 February, 2025. According to USCIS, 'consular officers may still require in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis for any reason. Applicants should check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about visa application requirements and procedures, and to learn more about the embassy or consulate's operating status and services.' 'My reading of this is that they are basically getting rid of Dropbox (interview waivers) for most categories. This will lead to longer waits for appointments and is significantly less efficient for renewals of visas. Also requiring interviews for children is patently absurd,' Brown stated on X. Earlier this month, the United States introduced a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee, scheduled to take effect in 2026. This fee, which functions as a security deposit, is pegged to inflation and may be refunded if visa holders fulfil compliance conditions. The fee is part of Trump's wide-ranging immigration reform included in the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on 4 July.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
US visa interview waiver: Lawyer's verdict on massive changes to B1/B2, H-1B programs
The US Department of State has unveiled massive changes to its nonimmigrant visa interview waiver program, set to take effect on September 2, 2025, as announced in the latest US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) press release. This update reverses the February 18, 2025, policy, tightening eligibility and generally requiring in-person interviews for most applicants, including those under 14 and over 79, with exceptions for specific visa categories and renewals. The USCIS has made changes to its visa interview waiver program(Unsplash) The shift aims to enhance security but has sparked concerns among travelers about increased processing times and accessibility, the Department of State states. Read More: End of H-1B visa lottery? DHS plans to replace model with 'weighted selection process' New visa interview waiver guidelines Under the new guidelines, most nonimmigrant visa applicants will face mandatory consular interviews, except for those under visa categories such as A-1, A-2, C-3 (excluding attendants of officials), G-1 through G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, and TECRO E-1, as well as holders of diplomatic or official visas. Exception A key exception applies to individuals renewing a full-validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa, or Mexican Border Crossing Card/Foil, provided the renewal occurs within 12 months of the previous visa's expiration, the applicant was at least 18 at issuance, and they apply from their country of nationality or residence. However, these applicants must have no prior visa refusals (unless overturned or waived) and no apparent ineligibility, giving consular officers broad discretion to mandate interviews case-by-case basis. Read More: 'This is dire': Youngsters call for 'elimination' of H-1B visa program amid job crisis The policy shift follows heightened scrutiny of immigration processes amid global security concerns, with the State Department emphasizing flexibility for officers to address individual risks. 'Consular officers may still require in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis or because of local conditions. We encourage applicants to check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about visa application requirements and procedures, and to learn more about the embassy or consulate's operating status and services,' the USCIS said in its release published earlier this week. Lawyer's verdict Soon after USCIS made the visa interview waiver announcement, Houston-based immigration attorney Steven Brown alerted applicants about 'longer waits'. 'My reading of this is that they are basically getting rid of Dropbox (interview waivers) for most categories. This will lead to longer waits for appointments and is significantly less efficient for renewals of visas. Also requiring interviews for children is patently absurd,' Brown posted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Minnesota cannabis business owner sees costs rise as Trump threatens copper tariffs
President Donald Trump's new tariff policy could have an impact on a blossoming Minnesota business. The Trump administration on Tuesday celebrated a new trade deal with Indonesia, which is one of the world's largest producers of copper. He's threatened a 50% tariff on copper imports starting next month. For cannabis business owner Steven Brown, who founded Nothing But Hemp, he's already seen his costs rise. It takes a container made out of copper to reach the right temperature in order to create hard candies. "This one bowl alone cost me $3,000, now with the new tariffs it would be $4,500," Brown said. With a full-scale operation, there are other tariffs he can't beat. "Oh gosh, our packaging has been a nightmare," Brown said. He imports herbs and mushrooms, as well as plastic pouches. "The cost has been atrocious so it definitely hurts. And we've had a lot of issues of it getting stuck in customs where we've never had any of those issues before," he said. "We haven't had to pass it on to the the consumer yet but we are getting really close in some areas." His eyes are on the prize as cannabis grows in Minnesota. Latest numbers show that even before it became legal, 34% of Minnesotans over age 12 used cannabis. "We hope for the best and hopefully there is going to be some policy changes on these tariffs," Brown said. The White House says tariffs are needed to ensure fair trade, bring back manufacturing and protect national security.
