News for 'Immigration and Citizenship'

Amendments in Citizenship Bill moved by Oppn defeated at JPC meet

Amendments in Citizenship Bill moved by Oppn defeated at JPC meet

Rediff.com31 Dec 2018

It will be presented in the Lok Sabha next week in its original form.

In 1st SOTU address, Trump moots merit-based immigration

In 1st SOTU address, Trump moots merit-based immigration

Rediff.com31 Jan 2018

Trump said that his proposal should be supported by both parties (Republican and Democratic) as a fair compromise -- one where nobody gets everything they want, but where the country gets the critical reforms it needs.

Ahead of Modi's US visit, Biden eases green card norms

Ahead of Modi's US visit, Biden eases green card norms

Rediff.com16 Jun 2023

The Biden administration has eased norms by releasing policy guidance on the eligibility criteria for those waiting for green cards to work and stay in America, days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US.

Race to White House: Clinton, Sanders spar over Obama, immigration

Race to White House: Clinton, Sanders spar over Obama, immigration

Rediff.com12 Feb 2016

US presidential aspirants Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on Friday tried to woo minority Latino and African American voters as they sparred over issues like race and their records on immigration during a Democratic debate.

In acceptance speech, Kamala warns Americans against re-electing Trump

In acceptance speech, Kamala warns Americans against re-electing Trump

Rediff.com24 Aug 2024

Kamala Harris used her forceful presidential acceptance speech to present herself as a leader who could unite the country to chart a 'new way forward' and warned Americans of 'extremely serious' consequences of putting her Republican rival Donald Trump back in the White House.

Citizenship amendment bill, triple talaq bill set to lapse on June 3

Citizenship amendment bill, triple talaq bill set to lapse on June 3

Rediff.com13 Feb 2019

The Opposition had been opposing provisions of the two bills in Rajya Sabha where the government lacks numbers.

US immigration agency reaches H-1B cap; to use lottery

US immigration agency reaches H-1B cap; to use lottery

Rediff.com6 Apr 2013

As predicted the US Citizenship and Immigration Services received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap for fiscal year-2014 before the end of the fifth day of starting the filing.

UNGA: India abstains on Pak's resolution against 'Islamophobia'

UNGA: India abstains on Pak's resolution against 'Islamophobia'

Rediff.com16 Mar 2024

India abstained in the United Nations General Assembly on a draft resolution introduced by Pakistan and co-sponsored by China on Islamophobia, asserting that the prevalence of 'religiophobia' against Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and other faiths facing violence and discrimination must also be acknowledged rather than singling out just one religion.

'Canada didn't act against Nijjar despite India's dossier'

'Canada didn't act against Nijjar despite India's dossier'

Rediff.com22 Sep 2023

Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose killing led to a major diplomatic row between India and Canada, reached the North American country using a counterfeit passport and Canada did not take any action against him despite being informed that he faced over a dozen criminal cases of murder and other terrorist activities, sources said on Friday.

CAA will be implemented within 7 days: Union minister

CAA will be implemented within 7 days: Union minister

Rediff.com30 Jan 2024

The CAA, enacted by the BJP-led government at the Centre in 2019, aims at granting Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014.

Indian immigrants in US fear deportation post DACA repeal

Indian immigrants in US fear deportation post DACA repeal

Rediff.com6 Sep 2017

President Trump said that he has great love for young immigrants who came to America as children.

SC to hear PILs challenging CAA on Monday

SC to hear PILs challenging CAA on Monday

Rediff.com11 Sep 2022

A bench headed by Chief Justice U U Lalit is scheduled to hear the petitions challenging the validity of the CAA whose enactment had triggered widespread protests across the country.

Obama's immigration norms to ease Indian IT firms concerns

Obama's immigration norms to ease Indian IT firms concerns

Rediff.com23 Nov 2014

It was expected to be a friendly Bill for the IT outsourcing industry

9 held for sending people to Europe via 'donkey' route

9 held for sending people to Europe via 'donkey' route

Rediff.com15 Jan 2024

With the arrests of nine men, including four Bangladeshi nationals, the Delhi Police on Monday claimed to have busted an international racket that used to send people to European countries on the basis of illegal documents.

US girl posing as Indian did MBBS, HC asks to pay NRI fees for exit permit

US girl posing as Indian did MBBS, HC asks to pay NRI fees for exit permit

Rediff.com20 Mar 2023

Coming to India on a tourist visa as a child, she had completed her education throughout claiming to be an Indian citizen.

Obama lashes out at opponents for not passing immigration bill

Obama lashes out at opponents for not passing immigration bill

Rediff.com1 Jul 2014

Obama announced to take a series of executive actions, including a shift of immigration enforcement resources.

FCRA bribery case leads to overhaul of MHA's foreigners division

FCRA bribery case leads to overhaul of MHA's foreigners division

Rediff.com7 Jun 2022

Following the arrest of six ministry of home affairs officials in the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) bribery case, the foreigners division of MHA has been overhauled to break the chain of deep-rooted network.

H-1B, L-1 visa fees to be hiked massively

H-1B, L-1 visa fees to be hiked massively

Rediff.com5 Jan 2023

The Biden administration has proposed a massive hike in immigration fees, including the much sought-after H-1B visas for high-skilled foreign workers, which is very popular among Indian tech professionals. Under the proposed rule, published by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Wednesday, the application for the H-1B visa increases from $460 to $780, and L-1 from $460 to $1,385. The application fee for O-1 visas has been proposed to increase from $460 to $1,055.

WOW Moments From Paris Olympics!

WOW Moments From Paris Olympics!

Rediff.com13 Aug 2024

With the athletes bidding goodbye to Paris after another bone-tingling edition of the Olympics, Norma Astrid Godinho/Rediff.com, shares some interesting nuggets that made the Paris Olympics an event to remember!

Good news for those in US on business or tourist visa

Good news for those in US on business or tourist visa

Rediff.com23 Mar 2023

The US has announced that individuals travelling to the country on a business or tourist visa - B-1 and B-2 - can apply for new jobs and even appear in interviews, but the prospective employees must ensure that they have changed their visa status before starting a new role. B-1 and B-2 visas are generally referred to as "B visas", and they are the most common types of visa issued for a wide range of uses in the United States. The B-1 visa is issued mainly for short-term business trips, while the B-2 visa is issued mainly travelling for tourism purposes.

H-1B visa: US reaches cap for 2023

H-1B visa: US reaches cap for 2023

Rediff.com24 Aug 2022

The US has received sufficient number of applications needed to reach the Congressionally mandated 65,000 H1-B visa cap for the fiscal year 2023, the country's federal agency for immigration services said on Tuesday. 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 thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

Grace period for retrenched H1-B workers to be extended to 180 days

Grace period for retrenched H1-B workers to be extended to 180 days

Rediff.com15 Mar 2023

A presidential advisory sub-committee has recommended the federal government to extend the grace period for H1-B workers, who have lost their jobs, from the existing 60 days to 180 days so that the workers have enough opportunities to find a new job or other alternatives. "The immigration subcommittee recommends the Department of Homeland Security and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend the grace period for H1-B workers, who have lost their jobs, from 60 days to 180 days," Ajay Jain Bhutoria, member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, said on Tuesday. In his presentation, Bhutoria highlighted the significant challenges faced by H1-B workers laid off from their jobs.

Canada: 'Students shouldn't be worried'

Canada: 'Students shouldn't be worried'

Rediff.com27 Sep 2023

'There is no reason to anticipate a drastic change in Canada's attitude towards Indian students.'

Jobless In US, Indian Techies Face Uncertain Future

Jobless In US, Indian Techies Face Uncertain Future

Rediff.com23 Jan 2023

Those on H-1B visas have to find a new job within 60 days or head back to India.

8 held in Tripura for illegal entry of Bangladeshis, Rohingyas into India

8 held in Tripura for illegal entry of Bangladeshis, Rohingyas into India

Rediff.com31 Jul 2023

The arrests were made from different districts of Tripura by teams of Assam police's special task force, he said.

No more amendments to CAA to include more minorities

No more amendments to CAA to include more minorities

Rediff.com4 Aug 2021

The objective of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, enacted in 2019, is to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim persecuted minorities -- Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians -- from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

SC grants 3 weeks to Assam, Tripura to file pleas on CAA, hearing on Dec 6

SC grants 3 weeks to Assam, Tripura to file pleas on CAA, hearing on Dec 6

Rediff.com31 Oct 2022

It said that the nodal counsel would consider designating some other matters as lead ones, keeping in mind the grounds of geographical and religious classifications among other factors.

'Modi and Trudeau will sacrifice our dreams'

'Modi and Trudeau will sacrifice our dreams'

Rediff.com9 Oct 2023

As India's diplomatic tensions with the Land of the Maple Leaf escalate, so do the anxieties of countless Punjabis.

It's just bad: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on CAA

It's just bad: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on CAA

Rediff.com14 Jan 2020

In a statement issued by Microsoft India, Nadella said: "Every country will and should define its borders, protect national security and set immigration policy accordingly. And in democracies, that is something that the people and their governments will debate and define within those bounds. "I'm shaped by my Indian heritage, growing up in a multicultural India and my immigrant experience in the United States. My hope is for an India where an immigrant can aspire to found a prosperous start-up or lead a multinational corporation benefitting Indian society and the economy at large".

Canadian lawmakers back Indian students facing deportation

Canadian lawmakers back Indian students facing deportation

Rediff.com8 Jun 2023

A Canadian parliamentary committee has voted unanimously to urge the border services agency to stop the deportation of nearly 700 Indian students who were duped by unscrupulous education consultants in India to enter the country with "fraudulent college admission letters."

No CAA/NRC protest banners! IPL ticket advisory in four cities

No CAA/NRC protest banners! IPL ticket advisory in four cities

Rediff.com2 Apr 2023

Four cities, including, Delhi, Mohali, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad have been issued ticket advisories with fans being banned from carrying protest banners.

Abrahamic binary has outlived its utility

Abrahamic binary has outlived its utility

Rediff.com20 Mar 2024

It is only the Indian approach of holding on to multiple realities and contradictory ideas simultaneously that is likely to deliver peace and progress. Binary logic is out of sync with reality, notes R Jagannathan.

Govt holding talks with Kuki, Meitei groups: Source

Govt holding talks with Kuki, Meitei groups: Source

Rediff.com28 Jul 2023

Refuting the opposition's claim that Manipur 'is burning', a senior government functionary said on Thursday that no killing has happened in the state since July 18 and asserted that peace and normalcy will be restored soon through ongoing talks with the two warring communities -- Meiteis and Kukis.

Plot to kill Pannun: SC asks Gupta to move Czech court

Plot to kill Pannun: SC asks Gupta to move Czech court

Rediff.com15 Dec 2023

The Supreme Court on Friday deferred the hearing for January 4 2024, of the habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Nikhil Gupta, accused by the United States of conspiring to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a India designated terrorist, against his arrest and ongoing extradition proceedings in the Czech Republic.

CAB gets President's assent, becomes Act

CAB gets President's assent, becomes Act

Rediff.com13 Dec 2019

The bill was passed by Rajya Sabha yesterday. The Act comes into effect with its publication in the official gazette on Thursday.

US reaches H-1B visa cap for 2021

US reaches H-1B visa cap for 2021

Rediff.com18 Feb 2021

The US has received enough petitions needed to reach the Congressionally-mandated 65,000 H-1B visa cap for the fiscal year 2021 and successful candidates for the most sought-after work visa among foreign professionals, including Indians, would be decided by a computerised draw of lots. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows the US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

Govt seeks more time to file replies, SC puts off CAA hearing to Oct 31

Govt seeks more time to file replies, SC puts off CAA hearing to Oct 31

Rediff.com12 Sep 2022

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will hear on October 31 a batch of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) which seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim migrants fleeing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

US readies plan to facilitate H-1B, L1 visa holders

US readies plan to facilitate H-1B, L1 visa holders

Rediff.com10 Feb 2023

The US is planning to resume the process of domestic visa revalidation in certain categories, like H-1B and L1 visas, on a pilot basis later this year, a move that will benefit tens of thousands of foreign tech workers, particularly from India. Until 2004, certain categories of non-immigrant visas, particularly the H-1B, could be renewed or stamped inside the US. After that, for the renewal of these visas, in particular, those on H-1B, the foreign tech workers have to go out of the country, mostly to their own country to get the H-1B extension stamped on their passport.

US makes it easier for H-1B spouses to take up employment

US makes it easier for H-1B spouses to take up employment

Rediff.com12 Nov 2021

In yet another immigration-friendly move that would benefit thousands of Indian-American women, the Biden administration has agreed to provide automatic work authorisation permits to the spouses of H-1B visa holders, most of whom are Indian IT professionals.

H-4 visa holders may get an automatic right to work in America

H-4 visa holders may get an automatic right to work in America

Rediff.com8 Apr 2022

Two US lawmakers have introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that aims at granting an automatic right to H-4 visa holders to work in the country, a move which will benefit the spouses of thousands of foreigners, including Indians, and also address the labour shortage affecting American businesses. H-4 visas are issued to dependent spouses and children who accompany H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and H-3 visa holders to the United States. Many H-4 visa holders are highly skilled people in their own right and previously had careers of their own or worked to support their families.