News for 'US Citizenship and Immigration Service'

Trump's $100K H-1B visa hike hits Indian workers hard

Trump's $100K H-1B visa hike hits Indian workers hard

Rediff.com20 Sep 2025

The Trump administration has announced a massive increase in H-1B visa fees, imposing a $100,000 annual charge that will fundamentally alter how American companies hire skilled foreign workers, particularly impacting Indian IT professionals who comprise the largest group of beneficiaries.

New US Visa Policy: No Impact On H1-Bs

New US Visa Policy: No Impact On H1-Bs

Rediff.com14 Apr 2025

'Of course, people will have to carry documents all the time. There is overall uncertainty in living in the US.'

Indian-origin tech firms corner 1/5th of H-1B visas

Indian-origin tech firms corner 1/5th of H-1B visas

Rediff.com5 Jan 2025

Indian-origin tech companies cornered a fifth of all H-1B visas issued by the US with Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services leading the pack, an analysis of data from the US immigration department showed. According to data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, in April-September 2024 period, out of the total 1.3 lakh H-1B visas issued to different employers, about 24,766 visas were issued to Indian-origin companies.

US citizenship to cost more from Oct 26

US citizenship to cost more from Oct 26

Rediff.com27 Sep 2005

If you are applying for United States citizenship or planning to apply for any other immigration benefits, be ready to pay more from October 26.\n\n

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.

65,960 Indians took American citizenship in 2022: Report

65,960 Indians took American citizenship in 2022: Report

Rediff.com22 Apr 2024

An estimated 46 million foreign-born persons resided in the United States in 2022, approximately 14 per cent of the total US population of 333 million, according to American Community Survey data from the US Census Bureau.

Who is Tahawwur Rana and how is he linked to 26/11 attacks?

Who is Tahawwur Rana and how is he linked to 26/11 attacks?

Rediff.com9 Apr 2025

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Pakistan-born Canadian national and close associate of David Coleman Headley, is set to be extradited to India from the US. Rana was involved in the planning and execution of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which killed 166 people, including six Americans. He assisted Headley in obtaining a visa for India, established a front company in Mumbai, and helped in reconnaissance of targets in Mumbai and New Delhi. Rana was convicted in the US for providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and sentenced to 14 years in prison. His extradition to India will allow authorities to question him about his involvement in the Mumbai attacks and potentially uncover new information about the role of Pakistani state actors.

630,000 Indians among immigrants hit by US court verdict

630,000 Indians among immigrants hit by US court verdict

Rediff.com14 Sep 2023

A US federal judge in Houston has declared illegal a federal policy that prevents the deportation of hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, including hundreds of Indians, brought to the US as children, but noted that the government can continue to process renewals of its current recipients.

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.

US reaches H-1B cap for fiscal year 2024

US reaches H-1B cap for fiscal year 2024

Rediff.com15 Dec 2023

The US has received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach a cap for the much-sought-after H-1B foreign work visas for the fiscal year 2024, a federal agency has announced. 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.

Want A US Visa? Pray to Lord Hanuman!

Want A US Visa? Pray to Lord Hanuman!

Rediff.com20 Feb 2025

As the US gets tougher with visas, the prayers of US-bound devotees in India are getting more fervent, and their purse strings looser. Called Visa Hanuman temples (there are half a dozen all over India), some of them ask for a 'fee'.

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.

Ex-ISIS bride Shamima Begum can't return to Britain, loses citizenship appeal

Ex-ISIS bride Shamima Begum can't return to Britain, loses citizenship appeal

Rediff.com22 Feb 2023

The British government has claimed Begum could seek a Bangladeshi passport given her heritage but her family has argued that she is British and has never held Bangladeshi citizenship.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: Engaging The Indian Diaspora Is A Must

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: Engaging The Indian Diaspora Is A Must

Rediff.com8 Jan 2025

The Indian Diaspora has been able to carve a niche in their adopted countries as a result of their talent, perseverance and hardworking nature, asserts Rup Narayan Das.

22,000 H-1B applications filed in first four days

22,000 H-1B applications filed in first four days

Rediff.com6 Apr 2012

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has received about 22,000 petitions for the much sought after H-1B work visas in the first four days after it started accepting applications on April 2, officials said.

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.

H-1B visa petitions to be accepted till April 7

H-1B visa petitions to be accepted till April 7

Rediff.com23 Mar 2009

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services would accept petitions for the H-1B work visas on the first five working days beginning April 1.

Assam CM may order SIT probe into 'Pak links' of Gogoi's wife

Assam CM may order SIT probe into 'Pak links' of Gogoi's wife

Rediff.com15 Feb 2025

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into allegations of Pakistan links of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi's British wife Elizabeth Colburn. Sarma alleged that Colburn had visited Pakistan after her marriage and that there are apprehensions of ISI infiltration into the Chief Minister's Office when Gogoi's father, the late Tarun Gogoi, was the chief minister. Sarma also shared screenshots of social media posts by Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, an advisor of the Pakistan Planning Commission and a former colleague of Colburn, claiming that the relationship between the Gogois and Sheikh appeared to be "deeply rooted." Sarma's allegations have been rejected by the Congress as "laughable and entertaining."

Hold H-1B visa? Will get green card soon

Hold H-1B visa? Will get green card soon

Rediff.com12 Jun 2008

From June 16, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting Premium Processing Service requests for Forms I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) filed on behalf of the alien workers whose six-month stay allowed under H1-B visa will expire within 60 days.

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.

Key provisions of CAA may violate Indian Constitution: US report

Key provisions of CAA may violate Indian Constitution: US report

Rediff.com22 Apr 2024

Key provisions of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which came into law this year may violate certain provisions of India's Constitution, a report issued by an independent research wing of the United States Congress has claimed.

Internet services suspended across Assam till Monday

Internet services suspended across Assam till Monday

Rediff.com14 Dec 2019

Internet services across Assam will remain suspended till December 16 to prevent alleged misuse of social media in disturbing peace and to maintain law and order in the state, officials said on Saturday.

Protests against Citizenship Act continue in NE, WB

Protests against Citizenship Act continue in NE, WB

Rediff.com14 Dec 2019

Violent agitations continued to rock parts of West Bengal for second consecutive day on Saturday as people protesting against the amended Citizenship Act set several buses on fire and torched portions of a railway station complex, officials said.

Saurabh Netravalkar And The H-1B Dream

Saurabh Netravalkar And The H-1B Dream

Rediff.com11 Jul 2024

The US needs to understand that it could potentially lose out on attracting several Netravalkars in the future if it curbs the influx of such industrious Indian immigrants, argues Vishal Menon.

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.

New US rule makes it tougher to renew H-1B, L1 visas

New US rule makes it tougher to renew H-1B, L1 visas

Rediff.com25 Oct 2017

Rescinding its more than 13-year-old policy, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has said that the burden of proof in establishing eligibility is, at all times, on the petitioner.

Vivek Ramaswamy wants to end H-1B visa system he used 29 times

Vivek Ramaswamy wants to end H-1B visa system he used 29 times

Rediff.com17 Sep 2023

Ramaswamy's stance on H-1B visas is reminiscent of the 2016 Trump campaign, when then-candidate Donald Trump, who has also hired a number of foreign workers under H-1B visas for his businesses, took a hardline stance on these foreign workers before later softening his rhetoric.

Thousands decry Trump's immigrant ban at US airports

Thousands decry Trump's immigrant ban at US airports

Rediff.com29 Jan 2017

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered at airports across the US to protest the ban announced by President Donald Trump on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, extending solidarity to those affected as chaos and fear gripped individuals trying to enter the country.

Where would Hindu immigrants be settled? Uddhav asks BJP

Where would Hindu immigrants be settled? Uddhav asks BJP

Rediff.com19 Dec 2019

The Maharashtra CM said he doesn't think the Centre has a plan on settlement of Hindu immigrant from other countries.

Trump's travel ban: Immigrants detained; judge stays deportation

Trump's travel ban: Immigrants detained; judge stays deportation

Rediff.com29 Jan 2017

"It's working out very nicely. You see it in the airports, you see it all over. It's working out very nicely," Trump said.

'Our fight will go on till Citizenship Act is revoked'

'Our fight will go on till Citizenship Act is revoked'

Rediff.com21 Dec 2019

'This movement is not about Hindus, Muslims or Bengalis, but about all Assamese, irrespective of their religious faith or economic class'

Silicon Valley businessman charged with visa fraud

Silicon Valley businessman charged with visa fraud

Rediff.com1 Apr 2013

The indictment alleges that Patwardhan falsely represented to the government that 19 non-immigrant applicants had high technology job offers with an American employer, when in reality he knew that he did not have jobs for the applicants

CAA applicants need these documents to prove nationality, arrival date

CAA applicants need these documents to prove nationality, arrival date

Rediff.com12 Mar 2024

Applicants for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 (CAA) can submit any of nine documents, including valid or expired passport, ID cards and land tenancy records, to prove he or she is a national of Afghanistan or Bangladesh or Pakistan.

Trump's in-laws become US citizens using 'chain migration', which he criticises

Trump's in-laws become US citizens using 'chain migration', which he criticises

Rediff.com10 Aug 2018

CHAIN MIGRATION must end now, Trump had tweeted ion November.

SC to hear in March plea seeking release of Rohingyas

SC to hear in March plea seeking release of Rohingyas

Rediff.com29 Feb 2024

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear in March a plea seeking direction to the government to release Rohingya refugees who have been 'illegally and arbitrarily' detained in jails and detention centres across the country.

Top 10 H-1B visa cos outsource jobs overseas

Top 10 H-1B visa cos outsource jobs overseas

Rediff.com20 Feb 2013

Congress should pass laws that create US jobs, not destroy them," said Marc Apter, president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-USA.

700 Indians took political asylum in US in 2014... and the number is rising

700 Indians took political asylum in US in 2014... and the number is rising

Rediff.com17 Mar 2015

Political asylum is the right to live in a foreign country, and is given by the government of that country to people who have to leave their own country because they are in danger of persecution.

Tri-Valley case: US nod for transfer of 435 Indian students

Tri-Valley case: US nod for transfer of 435 Indian students

Rediff.com22 Oct 2011

The US officials informed that out of more than 1000 students, who were being considered for transfer to other universities, 435 transfers were approved, 145 were denied and about an equal number were issued Notices of Intention to Deny (NOIDs), the Indian embassy said in a statement.