News for 'Department of Immigration'

How Did 3 Air India Passengers Bypass Immigration?

How Did 3 Air India Passengers Bypass Immigration?

Rediff.com6 days ago

Air India has been issued a show-cause notice by the ministry of civil aviation after three Italian nationals travelled from Amritsar to Delhi and then to Munich without obtaining mandatory departure immigration clearance, highlighting a 'serious security and immigration-related lapse'.

US halts visa interviews globally amid Trump's immigration crackdown

US halts visa interviews globally amid Trump's immigration crackdown

Rediff.com26 Aug 2026

The US State Department has paused visa appointments worldwide to conduct a 'global training initiative' for consular officers, aiming to ensure applicants are not likely to become a 'public charge' and are comprehensively evaluated, intensifying President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

AirTag, duplicate key: Stalker kills Indian-origin woman in US

AirTag, duplicate key: Stalker kills Indian-origin woman in US

Rediff.com13 Sep 2026

An Indian-origin woman, Shalini Thakur, was shot dead in California by Rohit, an undocumented immigrant from India, who had allegedly stalked her for months. Rohit later died by suicide after a police standoff. Thakur had previously reported the stalking and obtained a restraining order.

H-1B visa fee could get costlier by $103,000

H-1B visa fee could get costlier by $103,000

Rediff.com25 Aug 2026

The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed an additional fee of USD 103,265 for all H-1B visa cap-subject applications, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. This new fee aims to recover interagency costs for immigration programmes and would be paid in addition to existing fees. The proposal is open for public comments for 30 days and has drawn criticism from immigration advocates.

Trump Is Coming For Immigrant Brothers, Sisters, Aunties, Uncles...

Trump Is Coming For Immigrant Brothers, Sisters, Aunties, Uncles...

Rediff.com13 Jun 2026

Immigrants' contribution to the US economy is disproportionate to their share of the population, meaning that losing them would shrink the economy even more than losing a random group of Americans, points out Sree Sreenivasan.

US to end 60-day grace period for H-1B holders losing jobs

US to end 60-day grace period for H-1B holders losing jobs

Rediff.com11 Sep 2026

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new rule to eliminate the 60-day grace period for H-1B visa holders and other nonimmigrants after job loss, a move expected to significantly impact Indian technology workers.

US Visa Pause Clouds Travel Plans

US Visa Pause Clouds Travel Plans

Rediff.com27 Aug 2026

'One important clarification is that the reported US action is not a blanket cancellation of all US tourist visas.'

ICE detains Indian-origin guitarist, green-card holder grandmother in US

ICE detains Indian-origin guitarist, green-card holder grandmother in US

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

Two Indian-origin individuals, Pritesh Walia, a jazz guitarist, and Venkata Vasamsetty, a green-card holder grandmother, have been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in separate cases, highlighting the Trump administration's intensified deportation and enforcement drive.

Indian-origin engineer couple donates $20 mn to US varsity for AI college

Indian-origin engineer couple donates $20 mn to US varsity for AI college

Rediff.com10 Sep 2026

An Indian-origin engineer couple, Anuradha and Vikas Sinha, have donated $20 million to the University of North Texas (UNT) to establish the Anuradha and Vikas Sinha College of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics. This significant gift aims to create new opportunities for students and faculty, focusing on building and deploying intelligent systems and understanding their operation within human contexts. The donation underscores the couple's belief in education and immigrant contributions to the American dream, supporting leadership, scholarships, professorships, research, and entrepreneurship.

What Modi Govt Plans To Do About Illegal Immigration

What Modi Govt Plans To Do About Illegal Immigration

Rediff.com9 Jun 2026

The NDA government has gradually nuanced its position on the issue of demographic challenge.

Nepal floods: 61 Mansarovar pilgrims from Mumbai untraceable

Nepal floods: 61 Mansarovar pilgrims from Mumbai untraceable

Rediff.com29 Aug 2026

Anxiety grips Mumbai families as a 61-member Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage group, including prominent doctor-mountaineer Milind Chitley, remains untraceable following devastating flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border.

Indian-origin man loses US citizenship 15 years after rape conviction

Indian-origin man loses US citizenship 15 years after rape conviction

Rediff.com1 Sep 2026

The US District Court for the Eastern District of New York has revoked the naturalisation of Gurmeet Singh, an Indian-origin man, after he was convicted of rape and kidnapping. Singh had concealed these serious criminal acts during his naturalisation process, leading to the federal court's decision to strip him of his US citizenship.

Five killed, 558 missing in flash floods in Tibet's Gyirong: China

Five killed, 558 missing in flash floods in Tibet's Gyirong: China

Rediff.com28 Aug 2026

Flash floods in Tibet's Gyirong County, near the China-Nepal border, have resulted in five deaths and 558 missing individuals, including 260 foreign nationals. The disaster also caused significant casualties in Nepal and disrupted infrastructure. Rescue operations are underway, and concerns are rising over a newly formed barrier lake that poses a risk of further flooding.

Trump tightens green card rules, Indians face fresh hurdles

Trump tightens green card rules, Indians face fresh hurdles

Rediff.com19 Aug 2026

The Trump administration has reinstated and expanded the "public charge" rule, making it harder for immigrants seeking green cards if they have used public benefits like Medicaid, food stamps, or housing assistance. This policy change, effective September 18, will impact many applicants, including those from India, by broadening the criteria for inadmissibility.

2 NRI women hailing from Chhattisgarh missing in flood-hit Nepal

2 NRI women hailing from Chhattisgarh missing in flood-hit Nepal

Rediff.com28 Aug 2026

Two Non-Resident Indian (NRI) women linked to Chhattisgarh have been reported missing following flash floods in Nepal, while two other women from the state who were earlier reported missing have established contact with their families, officials said on Friday.

Bombay HC flags Aadhaar, PAN card fraud by infiltrators

Bombay HC flags Aadhaar, PAN card fraud by infiltrators

Rediff.com26 Aug 2026

The Bombay High Court has identified a worrying trend of foreign nationals infiltrating India, fraudulently acquiring documents like Aadhaar and PAN cards to claim Indian citizenship. The court highlighted serious gaps in inter-agency coordination and document verification, noting that some individuals have engaged in anti-national activities. It urged the Centre to amend the Aadhaar Act to facilitate tracing and deportation, and to establish procedures for dealing with human trafficking and border infiltration. The ruling came during a case involving an Afghan national who overstayed his visa and obtained fake documents to secure an Indian passport.

Nepal flash floods: 59 Mansarovar pilgrims among missing Indians

Nepal flash floods: 59 Mansarovar pilgrims among missing Indians

Rediff.com27 Aug 2026

Over 130 Indian nationals, including Kailash Manasarovar Yatra pilgrims and tourists, are missing or stranded in Nepal following devastating flash floods that have cut off central districts and disrupted communication links. Indian states and the embassy in Kathmandu have launched helplines to assist those affected.

US revoked over 1.75 lakh visas during Trump's tenure

US revoked over 1.75 lakh visas during Trump's tenure

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

The US on Monday announced that it had revoked more than 1.75 lakh visas during President Donald Trump's tenure for a range of crimes from reckless driving to sexual assault.

Indian student kills girlfriend in US, arrested in Germany

Indian student kills girlfriend in US, arrested in Germany

Rediff.com10 Aug 2026

Batchigari is accused of first-degree murder and kidnapping, having allegedly stolen Salazar's phone and credit cards and sent deceptive texts to her mother to conceal the crime.

Nearly 160 killed, over 750 missing in devastating Nepal flash floods

Nearly 160 killed, over 750 missing in devastating Nepal flash floods

Rediff.com27 Aug 2026

A massive flash flood originating in Tibet has devastated central Nepal, killing 17 people and leaving nearly 500 missing, including 105 Indians. The deluge, caused by a rock slide near the Nepal-Tibet border, swept through districts, washing away bridges and severely damaging at least a dozen hydropower projects.

84 Indians rescued in Nepal floods, search ops continue: MEA

84 Indians rescued in Nepal floods, search ops continue: MEA

Rediff.com28 Aug 2026

The devastating flash floods wreaked havoc across Nepal, with the ministry of external affairs on Thursday stating that 84 Indian nationals have been rescued while 290 remain uncontactable as the Himalayan nation stepped up search, rescue and relief operations following the disaster that has claimed more than 390 lives.

US F-1 Visa: 'Continuing Studies In The US Will Depend On...

US F-1 Visa: 'Continuing Studies In The US Will Depend On...

Rediff.com28 Jul 2026

With the duration of stay capped at four years, the biggest impact of the new F-1 visa rules is likely to be on PhD scholars, students enrolled in longer professional programmes, those whose graduation gets delayed and students moving from one academic programme to another, highlight education experts.

Trump mulls $100,000 fee for international student work visas

Trump mulls $100,000 fee for international student work visas

Rediff.com31 Jul 2026

The US is reportedly considering a USD 100,000 fee for Optional Practical Training (OPT) visas, which allow international students to work in the US after graduation. This move by the Trump administration follows a rejected H1-B visa fee proposal and could significantly impact foreign graduates and tech companies. The Department of Homeland Security is also exploring a USD 100,000 bond for green card applicants.

US proposes steep hike in citizenship application fees

US proposes steep hike in citizenship application fees

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed a nearly 75 per cent increase in the filing fee for Form N-400, the application for US citizenship through naturalisation, raising it from $760 to $1,330. The proposal also seeks to eliminate reduced-fee options and fee waivers, potentially impacting thousands of immigrants, including Indians.

Bengaluru Operation Nets 124 Illegal Immigrants from Bangladesh

Bengaluru Operation Nets 124 Illegal Immigrants from Bangladesh

Rediff.com6 Mar 2026

Bengaluru police detained 124 Bangladeshi nationals, including men, women, and children, for allegedly residing illegally in the city. The individuals were taken into custody following a special operation conducted by the Central Crime Branch.

Voter ID, Aadhaar, PAN not proof of Indian citizenship: HC

Voter ID, Aadhaar, PAN not proof of Indian citizenship: HC

Rediff.com29 Jul 2026

The Calcutta high court has held that voter identity cards, Aadhaar and PAN cards are not conclusive proof of Indian citizenship.

US makes U-turn on 'return to home country' order for green cards

US makes U-turn on 'return to home country' order for green cards

Rediff.com30 May 2026

The US Department of Homeland Security has clarified that not all immigrants seeking green cards will be required to return to their home country to make such applications, partially walking back a previous announcement.

Bengaluru Crackdown: 124 Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants Detained

Bengaluru Crackdown: 124 Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants Detained

Rediff.com6 Mar 2026

Bengaluru police detained 124 Bangladeshi nationals, including men, women, and children, residing illegally in the city. The operation was part of a larger drive to identify and deport illegal foreign nationals.

Visa drama leaves Ghana star out of FIFA World Cup opener

Visa drama leaves Ghana star out of FIFA World Cup opener

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was denied entry into Canada for a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Panama due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK, where he faces rape and sexual assault charges. Canada's Federal High Court upheld the visa refusal, despite Ghana's government calling the decision "extremely unfair" and questioning the reliance on unproven allegations.

US tightens Green Card rules, visa holders must apply from home countries

US tightens Green Card rules, visa holders must apply from home countries

Rediff.com23 May 2026

The US government on Friday issued a new policy memo tightening rules for foreign nationals on temporary visas seeking permanent residency, stating that persons wanting a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in "extraordinary circumstances".

FIFA World Cup 2026: Visa cleared, Cape Verde star Vozinha's mother ready for reunion

FIFA World Cup 2026: Visa cleared, Cape Verde star Vozinha's mother ready for reunion

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

The mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will finally get to watch her son play at the World Cup after receiving a visa to travel to the United States, following his tearful revelation that she missed his heroics against Spain due to travel issues.

30 Indian truck drivers arrested for living illegally in US, to be deported

30 Indian truck drivers arrested for living illegally in US, to be deported

Rediff.com2 Jun 2026

About 30 Indian nationals living illegally in the US and working as commercial truck drivers have been arrested and will be deported as part of 'Operation Checkmate'.

'Unlawful': US court strikes down Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee

'Unlawful': US court strikes down Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee

Rediff.com9 Jun 2026

A US federal judge has ruled that the USD 100,000 fee imposed by former President Donald Trump for H-1B visa applications was unlawful, as it lacked congressional approval. The ruling states the fee was a tax, exceeding the administration's authority and impacting skilled global talent.

Iraq striker Hussein questioned for hours on arrival in US for FIFA World Cup

Iraq striker Hussein questioned for hours on arrival in US for FIFA World Cup

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago's O'Hare Airport before being allowed into the United States, while the team's photographer was denied entry ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

Republican push to end H-1B visas sparks fresh immigration row

Republican push to end H-1B visas sparks fresh immigration row

Rediff.com10 Feb 2026

US Representative Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, introduced the 'Ending Exploitative Imported Labour Exemptions Act or EXILE Act', a bill that would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act by ending the H-1B visa programme.

Indian-Origin Man In US Faces Denaturalisation Over Fraud

Indian-Origin Man In US Faces Denaturalisation Over Fraud

Rediff.com9 May 2026

A 62-year-old Indian-origin man, now a US citizen, faces denaturalisation proceedings for allegedly defrauding investors of USD 2.5 million and concealing this from US authorities.

Bengal to build 'holding centres' for illegal foreigners

Bengal to build 'holding centres' for illegal foreigners

Rediff.com25 May 2026

West Bengal's Bharatiya Janata Party government has moved to institutionalise its "detect, delete and deport" policy by directing all district administrations to set up "holding centres" for suspected illegal foreigners and foreign prisoners awaiting repatriation -- a step that appeared to give administrative shape to one of the party's most potent political themes in the state.

Indian National Among Those Arrested In Sri Lanka For Visa Overstay

Indian National Among Those Arrested In Sri Lanka For Visa Overstay

Rediff.com22 Apr 2026

An Indian national is among 50 people arrested in Sri Lanka for overstaying their visas. The arrests were made in Negombo city, a tourist destination near Colombo. The arrested individuals, including 47 Chinese and two Malaysians, entered Sri Lanka on business visas but remained illegally after their visas expired.

Court Sentences Bangladeshi National For Illegal Entry, Forgery

Court Sentences Bangladeshi National For Illegal Entry, Forgery

Rediff.com22 May 2026

A court in Mumbai sentenced a Bangladeshi national to seven months in jail for illegally entering India and working abroad with forged documents, highlighting concerns about national security.

FIFA World Cup: 'Let's talk football': Vozinha shrugs off visa drama

FIFA World Cup: 'Let's talk football': Vozinha shrugs off visa drama

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha was not too keen to discuss it on Thursday but finally conceded he was very happy his mother had obtained a U.S. visa and would be able to watch him play against Uruguay in the World Cup this weekend.