News for 'Immigration Department'

Sri Lanka forms committee for repatriation of Tamil refugees from India

Sri Lanka forms committee for repatriation of Tamil refugees from India

Rediff.com5 Sep 2022

The Sri Lanka deputy high commissioner's office in Chennai is coordinating the efforts, it added.

Is Indian-American Ro Khanna eyeing 2024 US prez bid?

Is Indian-American Ro Khanna eyeing 2024 US prez bid?

Rediff.com14 Jan 2023

Those close to Khanna, 46, say he is keeping his options open ahead of a potential presidential run in 2028 or beyond. But others in his orbit are talking about an even more compressed timeline: running in 2024 if President Joe Biden, 80, decided not to, according to Politico, a political newspaper company based in Arlington County in the US.

'Trust can only be earned over long periods of time'

'Trust can only be earned over long periods of time'

Rediff.com26 Jun 2023

'This is still a relatively immature defense and high-tech relationship.'

US plans on business visa will hit hundreds of Indians

US plans on business visa will hit hundreds of Indians

Rediff.com22 Oct 2020

The State Department has proposed not to issue temporary business visas for H-1B speciality occupations which allowed several companies to send their technology professionals for a short stay to complete jobs on site in the US, a move which could affect hundreds of Indians. The proposal, if finalised, will eliminate any misconception that the "B-1 in lieu of H policy" provides an alternative avenue for foreign professionals to enter the US to perform skilled labour that allows, and potentially even encourages them and their employers to circumvent the restrictions and requirements relating to the H non-immigrant classification established by Congress to protect the US workers, the State Department said.

These Scientists Shaped India

These Scientists Shaped India

Rediff.com15 Aug 2023

I suggest we build a Vigyan Mandir (Temple of Science) with the ambience of a place of worship, so that it becomes a destination for pilgrims. We should embed on its walls bronze plaques describing each scientist mentioned here along with about a dozen of our ancient mathematicians, recommends Professor Kalyan Singhal, historian of science and technology.

Airlines told to share international fliers' PNR with customs

Airlines told to share international fliers' PNR with customs

Rediff.com9 Aug 2022

With this, India joins 60 other countries that collect PNR details of international passengers.

'If Manipur's unity is affected, India's unity gets affected'

'If Manipur's unity is affected, India's unity gets affected'

Rediff.com5 Jun 2023

'If Manipur is divided on ethnic lines, similar demands will come in other states also.'

HC raps govt for not doing enough to track producer's children in Pakistan

HC raps govt for not doing enough to track producer's children in Pakistan

Rediff.com21 Sep 2022

The Bombay high court on Wednesday rapped the Union government for "half-baked assurances and lips service" on tracking film producer Mushtaq Nadiadwala's two minor children, who he claims have been illegally detained by his wife in Pakistan since 2020.

'Modi has moved foreign policy from elite to masses'

'Modi has moved foreign policy from elite to masses'

Rediff.com5 Jul 2023

'For the first time since I've been following Indian politics, one heard voters talking about India's role on the world stage and the fact that, due to Modi's leadership, India was once again a great power.'

Rishi Sunak warns of 'very difficult decisions' in first cabinet meet

Rishi Sunak warns of 'very difficult decisions' in first cabinet meet

Rediff.com26 Oct 2022

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday held his first Cabinet meeting with the new team as he prepares for his debut at Prime Minister's Questions, the first big test of Britain's Indian-origin premier's leadership.

4 Americans evacuated from Afghanistan overland

4 Americans evacuated from Afghanistan overland

Rediff.com7 Sep 2021

The official confirmed that these are the first four Americans that "we've facilitated in this manner" since the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

US revokes citizenship of Indian native

US revokes citizenship of Indian native

Rediff.com10 Jan 2018

Singh, a native of India, arrived at San Francisco International Airport on September 25, 1991, without any travel documents or proof of identity.

Biden signs order to end Trump's Muslim travel ban

Biden signs order to end Trump's Muslim travel ban

Rediff.com21 Jan 2021

The Muslim ban initially restricted travel from seven Muslim-majority nations: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Punjab's Home Guard chief wants to quit over 'harassment'

Punjab's Home Guard chief wants to quit over 'harassment'

Rediff.com10 Aug 2021

Alleging that he has been "harassed" and served with a chargesheet on "frivolous" grounds, Punjab's Commandant General, Home Guards, Kultaran Singh Ghumman has sought premature retirement from service.

Planned after Mumbai terror attack, Modi likely to launch NATGRID soon

Planned after Mumbai terror attack, Modi likely to launch NATGRID soon

Rediff.com12 Sep 2021

"Had corona (COVID-19) not been there, the prime minister would have dedicated NATGRID to the country. I am hopeful that the prime minister will dedicate NATGRID to the country in some time," Union home minister Amit Shah said during the 51st Foundation Day event of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) here on September 4.

US to send 3000 troops to help evacuate embassy staff in Kabul

US to send 3000 troops to help evacuate embassy staff in Kabul

Rediff.com13 Aug 2021

"The embassy remains open and we plan to continue our diplomatic work in Afghanistan. The United States will continue to support consular services, and that includes the processing and operations of the Special Immigrant Visa Program, and we'll continue to engage in diplomacy with the Afghan government and the Afghan people. Additionally, we will continue our focus on counterterrorism," he said.

Australian government cancels Djokovic visa again

Australian government cancels Djokovic visa again

Rediff.com14 Jan 2022

The Australian government cancelled Novak Djokovic's visa for a second time on Friday, saying the World No 1, unvaccinated for COVID-19, may pose a risk to the community.

174 Indians file lawsuit against Trump's proclamation on H-1B

174 Indians file lawsuit against Trump's proclamation on H-1B

Rediff.com16 Jul 2020

The lawsuit seeks an order declaring the presidential proclamation restriction on issuing new H-1B or H4 visas or admitting new H-1B or H-4 visa holders as unlawful.

'Vandalism of Gandhi's statues in the US is a matter of deep concern'

'Vandalism of Gandhi's statues in the US is a matter of deep concern'

Rediff.com25 Aug 2022

'Attacking his statues disregard his values, which as we know are most needed in the world today.'

Voracova left Australia after visa issues: Czech Foreign Ministry

Voracova left Australia after visa issues: Czech Foreign Ministry

Rediff.com8 Jan 2022

While Djokovic has challenged his visa cancellation, Voracova, a 38-year-old doubles specialist, decided to leave, telling Czech news site idnes.cz she would not challenge because of the time it would take to wait and not train ahead of the Australian Open later this month.

Boris Johnson's government rocked by more resignations

Boris Johnson's government rocked by more resignations

Rediff.com6 Jul 2022

After the big blow of losing his chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid in quick succession, a flurry of junior ministerial and government aide resignations hit embattled British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday as he fought the latest challenge to his leadership.

'My role is to make people's lives easier'

'My role is to make people's lives easier'

Rediff.com7 Feb 2023

'I had the Indian American community fully supportive from day one when I ran and they said, Yes.' 'I ran again, I lost and they said, Yes.' 'I came back to them again, and they said, Yes, every time.'

US imposes sanctions on Pak, may deny visa to citizens

US imposes sanctions on Pak, may deny visa to citizens

Rediff.com28 Apr 2019

Islamabad refused to take back its citizen deportees and visa over-stayers from America

Foreign students in US may be deported if classes go online

Foreign students in US may be deported if classes go online

Rediff.com7 Jul 2020

The guidance is certain to cause severe anxiety and uncertainty for the hundreds of thousands of international students who are studying in the country and for those who were preparing to arrive in the US to begin their education when the new academic session begins in September.

Under-19 team manager recounts harrowing experience

Under-19 team manager recounts harrowing experience

Rediff.com22 Feb 2022

'After we landed at Port-of-Spain, we had to take a charter flight to Guyana, but seven of our boys were stopped as they were not vaccinated. We tried to explain to the immigration officials that India had not started their vaccination yet but they instructed us to take the next flight out of the country'. The ICC had organised the Under-19 World Cup with the help of Cricket West Indies. In a challenging time like this, the Caribbean was not the best place to organise a big event like the U-19 WC, felt Indian team manager Lobzang G. Tenzing.

Jaishankar raises US visa delay, Blinken says sensitive to it

Jaishankar raises US visa delay, Blinken says sensitive to it

Rediff.com28 Sep 2022

Blinken blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for a backlog of visa applications from Indian nationals.

US deploys 6000 troops at Kabul airport for evacuation

US deploys 6000 troops at Kabul airport for evacuation

Rediff.com16 Aug 2021

Simultaneously more than 60 countries led by the United States and the European Union issued a joint statement urging those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan to bear responsibility and accountability for the protection of human life and property, and for the immediate restoration of security and civil order.

80,000 Indians to head for World Cup

80,000 Indians to head for World Cup

Rediff.com13 May 2019

The demand is the highest for the India-Pakistan match at Old Trafford in Manchester on June 16 and also for the final at Lords on July 14.

Why US-based IT firms are likely to send more work to India

Why US-based IT firms are likely to send more work to India

Rediff.com25 Sep 2020

Most of the large Indian IT services players, such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and HCL Tech, have signalled increased offshoring efforts and opting for local hires in the US, primarily to address the immigration-related challenges.

US waives in-person interviews for H-1B visas

US waives in-person interviews for H-1B visas

Rediff.com24 Dec 2021

Amid growing concerns of surging COVID-19 cases, the US has announced that it will waive the in-person interview requirement for a range of visa applicants during the entire year in 2022, including for H-1B workers and students, many of whom are from India. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

Reform H-1B visa system: Trump to officials

Reform H-1B visa system: Trump to officials

Rediff.com23 Jun 2020

Under these reforms, the H-1B programme will prioritise those workers who are offered the highest wage, ensuring that the highest-skilled applicants are admitted, the White House said.

'Just because you're an immigrant doesn't mean you should live in fear'

'Just because you're an immigrant doesn't mean you should live in fear'

Rediff.com26 Mar 2015

Three years after the horrific massacre of Sikh worshippers at the Oak Creek, Wisconsin, gurdwara by a gunman with ties to supremacist organisations, a federal system to help track hate crimes against Sikhs, Hindu, Arab American communities has been formalised.

Australia rushes to file defence of Djokovic ban

Australia rushes to file defence of Djokovic ban

Rediff.com9 Jan 2022

Australian authorities scrambled on Sunday to file a legal defence of their decision to bar entry to tennis world number one Novak Djokovic over his COVID-19 vaccination status, as the Serbian superstar spent his fourth day in immigration detention.

Harris' win latest in growing list of desi lawmakers

Harris' win latest in growing list of desi lawmakers

Rediff.com8 Nov 2020

Countries across the world -- from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada to Singapore and New Zealand, are witnessing phenomenal strides by Indian-origin politicians, who are now taking on influential and prominent roles in governments and cabinets.

UK's PM-in-waiting Liz Truss remains committed to India ties

UK's PM-in-waiting Liz Truss remains committed to India ties

Rediff.com5 Sep 2022

Newly-elected Conservative Party leader and prime minister in waiting Liz Truss is among the senior British politicians known for championing deeper India-UK strategic and economic ties, describing them as a "sweet spot" of global trade dynamics.

Will US hike H-1B application fee?

Will US hike H-1B application fee?

Rediff.com7 May 2019

The Indian IT companies, which account for a large number of H-1B applications, are likely to face the additional financial burden because of this proposed increase in H-1B filing fees.

H-1B visas: Biden administration says lottery system to continue till Dec 31

H-1B visas: Biden administration says lottery system to continue till Dec 31

Rediff.com5 Feb 2021

The Biden administration has announced that it is delaying the H-1B policy of the previous Trump administration on allocation of the popular foreign work visas by continuing with the lottery system until December 31, 2021, to give the immigration agency more time to develop, test and implement the modifications to the registration system. On January 7, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced to do away with the traditional lottery system in deciding the successful applicants for the H-1B visas. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

Trump admn allows travel ban exemptions for IT, healthcare sectors

Trump admn allows travel ban exemptions for IT, healthcare sectors

Rediff.com13 Aug 2020

The US state department, which issued the revised travel advisory, on Wednesday said that the exemptions have been given under the national interest category.

US to invest $150 million to train H-1B One Workforce

US to invest $150 million to train H-1B One Workforce

Rediff.com25 Sep 2020

In sectors like IT, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and transportation, the H-1B One Workforce grant programme would be used to upskill the present workforce and train a new generation of workers.

Trump admin says H-4 visa holders won't be allowed to work

Trump admin says H-4 visa holders won't be allowed to work

Rediff.com15 Jun 2018

"Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses From the Class of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorisation," said the US department of homeland security's unified agenda in the federal register notification of its semi-annual regulatory agenda.