Devyani Khobragade's lawyer on Wednesday said the United States authorities goofed up in the investigation and arrest of the Indian diplomat on visa fraud charges as a federal agent made a "serious" mistake in reading the paperwork submitted regarding her maid's salary.
Amid hints that the government might be exploring capping royalty payments by India-based subsidiaries to US companies, experts warn Subhayan Chakraborty why such a move will only hurt the Indian economy.
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With the arrest of seven Indians, American authorities have claimed to have busted an immigration racket run by an infotech company owner who charged tens of thousands of dollars from expatriates by fraudulently sponsoring their H-1B work visas.
Rows over drug patents, solar panels and software piracy have blighted relations of late.
The United Nations on Friday said it has received official notification from India to register diplomat Devyani Khobragade, who was arrested on visa fraud charges, as a member of the country's Permanent Mission and the request will be processed according to "standard procedures".
A total of 254 millionaires from India have used the so-called "golden visa" to settle down in the UK through a large investment into the country since the route opened in 2008, according to a new report released by a UK-based anti-corruption charity on Monday. Spotlight on Corruption said that Indians ranked as the seventh nationality of super-rich to have availed of the Tier 1 (Investor) Visa, adding up to 254 between 2008 and 2020. China topped the list at 4,106, followed by Russia (2,526), Hong Kong (692), the United States (685), Pakistan (283) and Kazakhstan (278) ahead of India.
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The United States said it "deeply regretted" that India felt it necessary to expel an American diplomat after senior diplomat Devyani Khobragade was asked to leave the country following her indictment in a visa fraud case.
The father of the Indian woman diplomat, arrested on visa fraud charges in New York, on Tuesday met Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and was assured of the government's support.
United States immigration authorities have removed radio tags from the ankles of two Indian students from California-based Tri Valley University, which has been shut down on charges of massive visa fraud.
The United States immigration authorities on Wednesday asked the 1,555 students of the California-based Tri Valley University, which has been shut down on charges of visa fraud affecting hundreds of Indians, to contact them directly to find out the options they have to pursue their studies in this country.
Under the EB-5 Investment Visa programme, an applicant receives a conditional green card on making a minimum investment of $5,00,000 in the United States.
These students were radio tagged in California after Tri Valley University was shut down in January on charges of massive visa fraud.
India on Saturday said that the Indian students of California-based Tri Valley University, which has been shut down on charges of massive visa fraud, should be absorbed into other United States universities and not victimised.
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.
Electronic tagging is back to haunt students once again in the United States. Two students from the Tri-Valley University, which has been shut down on charges of a massive visa fraud, were radio tagged in Virginia on Tuesday following a meeting with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at Prosperity Avenue in Fairfax.
About 60 students of the Pleasanton, California-based Tri-Valley University--shut down by federal authorities for alleged visa fraud--met India's consul general in San Francisco February 1, requesting for help in finding a way out from the nightmare they say has fallen on them.
The Barack Obama administration has expressed "surprise" over the dismissal of a federal indictment against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in the visa fraud case.
Reacting strongly to the second indictment against its diplomat Devyani Khobragade in the United States, India on Saturday said it was an "unnecessary" step and any measure consequent to the decision will "unfortunately" impact efforts on both sides to build a strategic partnership between India and the US.
Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade has been exempted by a United States court from appearing in person for pre-trial processes in the case filed against her on visa fraud charges, her lawyer said on Monday.
NZ offers students a host of education avenues. Harpreet Singh Oberoi, study visa and immigration expert, talks about these and other aspects of studying in NZ.
Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade does not enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution on charges of visa fraud and making false statements, the US State Department has said in papers submitted before a New York court.
Majority of respondents say reading about media reports of such frauds bothers them more than their personal experience.
"Applicants for residence visa will be fingerprinted under a tighter biometric system to provide more secure identification and prevent fraud," major general Nasser Al Awadi Al Minhali, acting director-general of the Federal Naturalisation and Residency Department, told the Gulf News.
India on Thursday said the case against its diplomat Devyani Khobragade, arrested in New York on charges of visa fraud, should not be pursued and withdrawn by the US authorities.
There have been instances where forged letterheads of well-known Indian companies have been submitted along with Chinese visa applications.
Amid booming Sino-Indian trade, Indian missions in China have witnessed a growing tendency by some Chinese businesses to secure Indian visas by allegedly presenting fraudulent documents, including fake 'invitations' from leading Indian firms.
H-1B workers have minimal skills, says Infosys whistleblower
India on Friday expelled senior American diplomat within hours of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade being asked to leave the United States after her indictment in a visa fraud case for which she was arrested nearly a month ago, triggering strong reaction from the government here.
Wedding.con is a watchable show, if only to caution people about the latest scams, notes Deepa Gahlot.
Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade's father Uttam Khobragade today said here that re-indictment of his daughter clearly showed that the prosecutor had "no respect" for their own law.
Admitting to differences in interpretation of law, the United States on Friday said India had not acceded to demands for providing details of the inquiry into allegations made by diplomat Devyani Khobragade's domestic maid or make her available for discussing charges.
Deploring the arrest of Deputy Consul General in New York, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh on Friday summoned United States Ambassador Nancy Powell to convey India's "shock" over "absolutely unacceptable" treatment meted out to the senior Indian diplomat.
For Indian parents, sending a child abroad for a three-year degree could deplete 48% of their retirement savings, while a four-year degree may consume up to 64%.
'In restaurants, the waiter takes your card and then comes back with the machine. Don't allow that.' 'Let him come to you with the machine and then enter the card and the PIN yourself.'
Home secretary Jacqui Smith said the new arrangements as part of Tier 4 of the points based system will make the visa process simpler, more objective and more transparent for applicants and prevent abuse of the immigration system. From Tuesday, all British education providers (schools, colleges, universities) who recruit international students need to be registered with the UK Border Agency.
PM Modi had in the past rejected requests from some ministers for appointment of secretaries who were considered close to them.
Uttam Khobragade, the retired Indian Administrative Service officer and father of senior diplomat Devyani Khobragade who returned to India last week after being indicted for visa fraud in the United States, on Wednesday said he would contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
An Indian trio -- a solicitor and his two wives -- have been jailed in London for their alleged involvement in the biggest ever visa scam in the United Kingdom. A city court on Wednesday sentenced Jatinder Kumar Sharma, 44, and his second wife Rakhi Shahi, 31, for seven and eight years respectively for running a fraud firm called Univisas, where they helped hundreds of immigrants apply for visas using bogus documents and false identities.
