Latest news with #USImmigrationandNationalityAct
NDTV
6 days ago
- NDTV
US Faces 70-80% Drop In Indian Students As Visa Crisis Deepens: Report
US Universities have witnessed a steep drop in Indian student arrivals. Amid the Trump administration's ongoing crisis with international students, education consultants in Hyderabad have noted that outbound traffic has dipped by 70 per cent. The dip stems from the ongoing freeze in visa appointment slots and sudden spike in visa rejection rates. "By this time usually, most students are done with their visa interviews and are preparing to fly. This year, we're still refreshing the portal every day hoping for a slot to open. It's the worst in years," Sanjeev Rai from Hyderabad Overseas Consultant told the Times of India. US authorities had promised that visa slots would be released in phases, however there is a lot of obscurity, leaving students anxious. Moreover, students who manage to book slots have not been able to receive confirmation, Ankit Jain from Window Overseas Education Consultancy said, adding that the only logical reason for slots being open without confirming bookings could be the US testing the system. As a result, students are exploring other countries for education, "I really could not wait. I might just lose out on a year. It looks like a dead end at this point, hence I decided to withdraw my application," said a 23-year-old, who is now exploring Germany for a master's in automotive engineering. Arvind Manduva from I20 Fever consultancy said that, "If slots aren't released in the next few days, thousands of dreams will be shattered. We are seeing about an 80% drop. We're getting panic calls every day from students and their parents." Another issue arising is that students who had applied as early as March and secured interview appointments are now facing an unusually high rejection rate. "Many students who usually would have had smooth approvals are being turned away. Their social media was also clean. The only reason that everyone seems to be receiving is 214B," Jain added. Section 214(b) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act is a common reason for visa denials. It is given when the applicant does not demonstrate sufficient ties to their home country to prove that they would return home after the visit. Ravi Lothumalla from US Admission, an immigration consulting firm in Dallas, Texas said that this is not a new process, and the rules, vetting, and scrutiny had been in place for years, and has just been implemented now. The US Consulate General in Hyderabad has said that slots have resumed and has advised students to check the embassy or website for appointment availability. "We're working to fully vet visa applicants to ensure they do not intend to harm America or our interests, and that they credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms of their admission. We encourage applicants to apply as early as they can and to anticipate additional processing time for these visa categories," said a spokesperson from the US Consulate General Hyderabad. Last year India had overtaken China to send over 3.3 lakh students to the United States. According to data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), as of January 1, 2024, over 11.6 lakh Indian students were studying in higher education institutions abroad and the number for Europe as a destination had steadily been rising.
Economic Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
US fall intake hit by visa chaos: Consultants warn of 70–80% drop in Indian students
iStock With the fall semester about to begin in under two weeks, American universities are bracing for a steep drop in Indian student arrivals. Education consultants in Hyderabad estimate up to a 70% decline, citing a freeze in US visa appointment slots and a spike in rejection rates as the key reasons. 'By this time usually, most students are done with their visa interviews and are preparing to fly. This year, we're still refreshing the portal every day hoping for a slot to open. It's the worst in years,' Sanjeev Rai of Hyderabad Overseas Consultant, told TOI's Amisha Rajani. While the US State Department earlier indicated that student visa appointments would be released in phases, consultants say the process remains inconsistent and lacks transparency. With many students unable to secure interview slots or receive confirmation after booking, withdrawals are rising and alternative destinations like Germany are gaining attention. 'Even when a few slots opened midweek, those who managed to book haven't received confirmation.' He suggested the US authorities might be testing their systems, adding, 'There's no logical reason to open a handful of slots without confirming bookings,' Ankit Jain from Window Overseas Education Consultancy noted. Several consultancies report a sharp increase in panic calls from students and parents alike. 'If slots aren't released in the next few days, thousands of dreams will be shattered. We are seeing about an 80% drop. We're getting panic calls every day,' said Arvind Manduva of I20 Fever. Adding to the uncertainty is a high rate of rejections under Section 214B of the US Immigration and Nationality Act. This clause is typically used when applicants are unable to demonstrate strong ties to India and prove their intent to return after studies. 'Many students who usually would have had smooth approvals are being turned away. Their social media was also clean. The only reason that everyone seems to be receiving is 214B,' said Jain. India sent over 3.3 lakh students to the US last year, surpassing China for the first time. But this year, even those who began visa processes early are being turned down. 'Many students who have been preparing for months are seeing their dream crash. However, what the US authorities are doing is not new. The rules, vetting, and scrutiny were in place for years; it is just effectively implemented now. This will filter out applicants,' said Ravi Lothumalla from US Admission, an immigration consulting firm based in Dallas. Meanwhile, the US Consulate General in Hyderabad confirmed that visa slots have resumed. 'We're working to fully vet visa applicants to ensure they do not intend to harm America or our interests, and that they credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms of their admission. We encourage applicants to apply as early as they can and to anticipate additional processing time for these visa categories,' said a spokesperson from the US Consulate General in Hyderabad. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. What's keeping real retail investors out of the Nvidia rally Instagram and YouTube make billions off creators. Should they pay up for their mental health? Markets need to see more than profits from Oyo The hybrid vs. EV rivalry: Why Maruti and Mahindra pull in different directions. What's best? Stock Radar: Why is CDSL looking an attractive buy at current levels? Check target & stop loss for long positions Get ready for volatility with the big, better & experienced. 7 large-caps from different sectors with an upside potential of up to 39% Buy, Sell or Hold: Motilal Oswal sees over 20% upside in Tech Mahindra; YES Securities maintains add call on ICICI Lombard Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus
Shafaq News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
US delists HTS as terror organization
Shafaq News – Damascus/Washington On Monday, the United States removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, the State Department announced on Monday, citing recent political developments in Syria. The department stated that, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, "the group, previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra, was delisted under Section 219 of the US Immigration and Nationality Act." HTS, led by Syria's transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammad al-Julani), had originally been designated a terrorist organization in December 2012 under its former name, though they later rebranded as HTS after "distancing" themselves from al-Qaeda in 2016 and consolidating control over parts of northwest Syria. The reversal follows HTS's December 2024 offensive that led to the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime and pledged political reforms, particularly in foreign policy, since al-Sharaa took office. Notably, US President Donald Trump lifted sanctions on Syria in May during a visit to Saudi Arabia, attributing the move to a direct request from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking the first shift in US stance toward the new Syrian leadership under HTS.
Arab Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
US judge blocks Trump ban on asylum claims
SACRAMENTO, United States, July 3, (Xinhua): A US federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump's latest effort to shut the nation's asylum door, ruling that the White House overstepped both Congress's immigration statutes and the Constitution. In a 128-page opinion, Judge Randolph D. Moss of the US District Court for the District of Columbia wrote that Trump's January proclamation, which branded the rise in border crossings as an "invasion" and tried to create "an alternative immigration system," bypassed the protections Congress built into the US Immigration and Nationality Act. Since the proclamation would have denied humanitarian screenings to people entering between ports of entry as well as at official crossings, the court found it "fundamentally irreconcilable" with the statutory text guaranteeing anyone on US soil a chance to seek refuge, he said. He dismissed the administration's reliance on emergency powers under Section 1182(f) of the federal immigration law, saying that the provision authorizes a president to keep certain non-citizens outside the country but does not let the executive erase asylum outright. Moss's decision applied nationwide, but he delayed enforcement for 14 days to give the Justice Department time to appeal. Should the opinion stand, the government must resume processing all asylum requests filed after the proclamation took effect. Wednesday's ruling echoed earlier defeats for categorical asylum bans. In 2018 and 2020, federal courts blocked two previous Trump administration orders that sought to disqualify people who crossed the border irregularly.
United News of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
US judge blocks Trump ban on asylum claims
Sacramento, United States, July 3 (UNI) A US federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump's latest effort to shut the nation's asylum door, ruling that the White House overstepped both Congress's immigration statutes and the Constitution. In a 128-page opinion, Judge Randolph D Moss of the US District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday wrote that Trump's January proclamation, which branded the rise in border crossings as an "invasion" and tried to create "an alternative immigration system," bypassed the protections Congress built into the US Immigration and Nationality Act. Since the proclamation would have denied humanitarian screenings to people entering between ports of entry as well as at official crossings, the court found it "fundamentally irreconcilable" with the statutory text guaranteeing anyone on US soil a chance to seek refuge, he said. He dismissed the administration's reliance on emergency powers under Section 1182(f) of the federal immigration law, saying that the provision authorises a president to keep certain non-citizens outside the country but does not let the executive erase asylum outright. Moss's decision applied nationwide, but he delayed enforcement for 14 days to give the Justice Department time to appeal. Should the opinion stand, the government must resume processing all asylum requests filed after the proclamation took effect. Yesterday's ruling echoed earlier defeats for categorical asylum bans. In 2018 and 2020, federal courts blocked two previous Trump administration orders that sought to disqualify people who crossed the border irregularly. UNI XINHUA AKT RKM
