News for 'Immigration and Citizenship'

Employment bonanza announced for H-1B spouses

Employment bonanza announced for H-1B spouses

Rediff.com25 Feb 2015

From May 26 onwards, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting applications for work visas from H-IB spouses, reports Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com.

2,000 H-1B visas still available

2,000 H-1B visas still available

Rediff.com25 Apr 2007

The United States immigration authorities have announced that 2,000 slots in the H1B visa category are still available for those holding American master's degree or advanced degrees.

NRC used as tool to target minorities, says US panel

NRC used as tool to target minorities, says US panel

Rediff.com16 Nov 2019

Observing that the final NRC list, which validates bona fide Indian citizens of Assam, has excluded 19 lakh residents, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom on Friday said that a number of domestic and international organisations have expressed concern that the NRC is a "targeted mechanism to disenfranchise Assam's Bengali Muslim community, implicitly establishing a religious requirement for citizenship and potentially rendering large numbers of Muslims stateless."

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to visit India this month

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to visit India this month

Rediff.com13 Feb 2020

Nadella's visit comes at a time when the Indian government is taking a strong position on issues like data localisation and tightening the rules for e-commerce companies as well as social media platforms.

Britain, China clash over new UK visa for Hong Kongers

Britain, China clash over new UK visa for Hong Kongers

Rediff.com25 Feb 2021

Britain and China have clashed over the offer of British National Overseas passports to Hong Kong residents, observes Rup Narayan Das.

Clause 6 of Assam Accord cannot be implemented: BJP leader Himanta

Clause 6 of Assam Accord cannot be implemented: BJP leader Himanta

Rediff.com17 Feb 2021

Senior Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the government cannot implement the recommendations of the central panel on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, as those are "far from legal reality".

US starts receiving applications for H-1B visas

US starts receiving applications for H-1B visas

Rediff.com2 Apr 2013

Officials said the Citizenship and Immigration Services would not issue daily update on number of applications received, but will make an announcement when the cap is reached.

US demand for skilled worker visas seen topping quota

US demand for skilled worker visas seen topping quota

Rediff.com2 Apr 2013

US companies, particularly in technology, say they need the visas to fill vacant positions.

'Steep' decline in H-1B visas applications this year: USCIS

'Steep' decline in H-1B visas applications this year: USCIS

Rediff.com18 Apr 2017

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency which receives and determines the successful applications for H-1B visas, said yesterday that it received 199,000 H-1B applications for the 2018 fiscal year.

'You can't take the BJP at face value'

'You can't take the BJP at face value'

Rediff.com11 Dec 2019

'There are 17 million Hindus in Bangladesh and we, in the north east, see this Citizenship (Amendment) Bill as a route for them to enter India on the plea that they are facing persecution in Bangladesh.'

Indian cos bear brunt of H1B visa denial, shows study

Indian cos bear brunt of H1B visa denial, shows study

Rediff.com5 Mar 2020

While the denial rate has dropped slightly to 21 per cent in 2019 from 24 per cent in 2018, the National Foundation for American Policy has said it is much higher for Indian IT companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Wipro and very low for American companies like Amazon and Google. For instance, the denial rate for TCS and Infosys in 2019 was 31 per cent and 35 per cent respectively, whereas for Wipro it was 47 per cent and 37 per cent for Tech Mahindra. On the other hand, the denial rate for the new H-1B petitions in 2019 was just four per cent each for Amazon and Google. The denial rate for Microsoft during the same period was six per cent, and Facebook along with Walmart was just three per cent each.

H-1B visa: Silicon Valley-based IT firm sues US govt

H-1B visa: Silicon Valley-based IT firm sues US govt

Rediff.com17 May 2019

The company's H-1B petition on behalf of Anisetty was denied on the sole ground that the job offered to him did not qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation.

Is Modi's political capital depleting?

Is Modi's political capital depleting?

Rediff.com17 Aug 2021

It is hard to escape the feeling that solving the problems of 2020 and 2021 will require something special which at the moment is not on view, observes Aakar Patel.

Why fewer Indian students are heading to Australia

Why fewer Indian students are heading to Australia

Rediff.com2 May 2012

Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen on Wednesday said that reasons like the high cost of Australian dollar have resulted in decline in request for student visas from India

Oz eases tourist visa rules for its citizens' parents

Oz eases tourist visa rules for its citizens' parents

Rediff.com4 Sep 2012

The changes are expected to be in place by the end of this year.

Over 7,000 Indian-Americans to be hit after Trump scraps 'Dreamers' programme

Over 7,000 Indian-Americans to be hit after Trump scraps 'Dreamers' programme

Rediff.com5 Sep 2017

India ranks 11th among countries of origin for Deferred Action for Children Arrival students.

US uses lottery to choose recipients of H-1B visas

US uses lottery to choose recipients of H-1B visas

Rediff.com9 Apr 2013

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services on Tuesday said that the lottery was done on April 7.

US gets 50,000 H-1B petitions' packages on 1st day

US gets 50,000 H-1B petitions' packages on 1st day

Rediff.com5 Apr 2013

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, officially, has not come out on the number of H-1B applications received by it since April 1 when it started accepting petitions for it for the fiscal 2014 beginning October 1, 2013.

Indians largest permanent migrants to Australia

Indians largest permanent migrants to Australia

Rediff.com19 Jul 2012

Indian migrants comprised a total of 29,018 places or 15.7 per cent of the total migration programme of 185,000 places under the 2011-12 permanent migration programme.

Trump's 'merit-based' visa scheme to replace lottery system

Trump's 'merit-based' visa scheme to replace lottery system

Rediff.com3 Aug 2017

The bill, Trump said, 'would represent the most significant reform to our immigration system in half a century'.

Assam recognises 1.9 crore as citizens in first NRC draft

Assam recognises 1.9 crore as citizens in first NRC draft

Rediff.com1 Jan 2018

NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela said those people whose names have been excluded in the first list need not worry.

H1-B visa cap reached

H1-B visa cap reached

Rediff.com3 Jun 2006

Massive H-1B denial rates for Indian IT companies under Trump

Massive H-1B denial rates for Indian IT companies under Trump

Rediff.com6 Nov 2019

The denial rate jumped from 4% to 41% for Tech Mahindra, from 6% to 34% for TCS, from 7% to 53% for Wipro and from just 2% to 45% for Infosys.

Democrats' win in US mid-terms opens a door of hope for IT firms

Democrats' win in US mid-terms opens a door of hope for IT firms

Rediff.com21 Nov 2018

With Democrats having an upper hand in US Congress, the Donald Trump administration will find it difficult to come up with any future legislative changes with regard to visa regulations.

Six-month extension to complete update of NRC by June 30

Six-month extension to complete update of NRC by June 30

Rediff.com27 Dec 2018

The draft NRC was published on July 30 and included the names of 2.9 crore people out of the total 3.29 crore applications. There has been a huge controversy over the exclusion of 40 lakh people from the draft NRC.

Congress's chances in Assam hinge on alliance partners

Congress's chances in Assam hinge on alliance partners

Rediff.com22 Mar 2021

Even if the Congress is unable to defeat the political appeal of Narendra Modi, the resources and talent of the BJP and its managers, it is relying on issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act and the perceived threat to Assamese identity, along with the future threat of the National People's Register to ensure it continues to be a force in the state. Aditi Phadnis reports.

Committed to abrogate Articles 370, 35A: BJP manifesto

Committed to abrogate Articles 370, 35A: BJP manifesto

Rediff.com8 Apr 2019

The party has always advocated abrogation of Article 370 and has also been speaking against Article 35A, but its renewed pitch during elections assumes significance.

UN body moves SC against CAA; India says no locus standi

UN body moves SC against CAA; India says no locus standi

Rediff.com3 Mar 2020

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has approached the Supreme Court seeking to intervene in the hearing on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, saying there was a need to take into account the "international human rights law, norms and standards" in the proceedings.

No new H1-B visa before Oct

No new H1-B visa before Oct

Rediff.com18 Feb 2004

H1-B visa applications for 2018-19 see 4% drop

H1-B visa applications for 2018-19 see 4% drop

Rediff.com15 Apr 2018

Lower numbers signal that that companies, especially the technology services firms, are steadily reducing the dependency on non-immigrant visas.

Indian-American lawmakers slam Trump's address to US Congress

Indian-American lawmakers slam Trump's address to US Congress

Rediff.com1 Mar 2017

Indian-American lawmakers on Wednesday criticised US President Donald Trump's maiden address to Congress, saying it lacked specificity and offered only unrealistic plans on issues like immigration and Obamacare.

Exclusion from NRC does not mean declaration as foreigners: MHA

Exclusion from NRC does not mean declaration as foreigners: MHA

Rediff.com23 Jul 2018

If someone is dissatisfied, he or she can always go to a foreigners' tribunal in the state to get justice, an official said.

Aus rights body terms Indian student detention arbitrary

Aus rights body terms Indian student detention arbitrary

Rediff.com24 Oct 2011

An Indian student, who was detained in 2004 by Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship for violating visa rules, is likely to get a compensation of $ 6,00,000 (Rs 3.1 crore) after the country's human rights body termed his detention as 'arbitrary'.

Trouble brews for Indian techies as H-1B visa norms get tougher

Trouble brews for Indian techies as H-1B visa norms get tougher

Rediff.com2 Nov 2018

The new information required by the Department of Labour is significant because before sponsoring a foreign worker for the H-1B visa, the company needs to get its labour application approved by it.

Kerala Assembly passes resolution against CAA

Kerala Assembly passes resolution against CAA

Rediff.com31 Dec 2019

Setting aside their political differences, the ruling CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front and Opposition Congress headed United Democratic Front, once again came together to launch a joint fight against the Centre on the CAA, which has seen unprecedented protests all over the country.

Cap on US H-1B work visa reached

Cap on US H-1B work visa reached

Rediff.com13 Jun 2012

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that it has reached the cap on Congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B work visas, the most sought after by Indian professionals.

Surge in L1 visas to US presaged

Surge in L1 visas to US presaged

Rediff.com9 Mar 2004

'H-1B visa system is broken, needs to be fixed'

'H-1B visa system is broken, needs to be fixed'

Rediff.com9 Apr 2015

US to fix the immigration system that keeps American firms from hiring the top world talent they need.

The Indian American conundrum: Liberal in US, conservative in India

The Indian American conundrum: Liberal in US, conservative in India

Rediff.com10 Feb 2021

Indian-Americans have relatively more conservative views of policies in India while on issues affecting the US, the diaspora has a more liberal take, according to a survey of the political attitudes of the influential community in this country.

Protests over CAA mark R-Day in New York

Protests over CAA mark R-Day in New York

Rediff.com27 Jan 2020

The Republic Day celebration was about India's Constitution, but the protests also argued for protecting the values of equality and secularism enshrined in it.