Prince Harry's US residency is under scrutiny, as his visa records will be reviewed in a court hearing on February 5. Watch this report for more details!

Prince Harry faces scrutiny over US visa

The US Mission to India in a statement released on Monday (September 29) said that the US has "opened an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travellers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students."

"The recently released new slots will help hundreds of thousands of Indian applicants take timely interviews, facilitating travel, which is the backbone of the people-to-people ties that underpin the US-India relationship," the statement added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/were-working-like-hell-biden-on-avoiding-all-out-war-in-middle-east-after-israeli-strikes-763056">'We're working like hell': Biden on avoiding all-out war in Middle East after Israeli strikes</a>

The announcement comes days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited United States and met President Joe Biden on the sidelines of Quad Summit and 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York.

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The U.S. Mission to India has opened an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travelers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students. <a href="https://t.co/DnPYNNkONN">pic.twitter.com/DnPYNNkONN</a>
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“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden set an ambitious goal to improve and expedite the visa process and I’m proud to say that we have delivered on that promise. Our consular teams at the embassy and four consulates work tirelessly to ensure that we meet the surging&nbsp;demand,” a statement from US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, read.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/gdp-measured-in-radicalisation-indias-jaishankar-takes-a-dig-at-pakistan-in-unga-address-762848">‘GDP measured in radicalisation,’ India’s Jaishankar takes a dig at Pakistan in UNGA address</a>

"The US Mission to India has already surpassed one million nonimmigrant visa applications for the second consecutive year. &nbsp;During our student visa season this summer, we continued to process record numbers, and all first-time student applicants were able to obtain an appointment at one of our five consular sections around India," a post shared by the US Embassy in India said.

As per the statement from the US Mission, in 2024 so far, over 1.2 million Indians have travelled to the United States, marking a 35% rise compared to the same time frame in 2023. Currently, at least six million Indians hold non-immigrant visas to visit the US, and every day, the US Mission is issuing thousands more, the statement added.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US Mission to India in a statement released on Monday (September 29) said that the US has "opened an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travellers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students.

The US Mission to India in a statement released on Monday (September 29) said that the US has "opened an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travellers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students." "The recently released new slots will help hundreds of thousands of Indian applicants take timely interviews, facilitating travel, which is the backbone of the people-to-people ties that underpin the US-India relationship," the statement added. Also read: 'We're working like hell': Biden on avoiding all-out war in Middle East after Israeli strikes The announcement comes days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited United States and met President Joe Biden on the sidelines of Quad Summit and 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York. The U.S. Mission to India has opened an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travelers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students. pic.twitter.com/DnPYNNkONN — U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) September 30, 2024 × “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden set an ambitious goal to improve and expedite the visa process and I’m proud to say that we have delivered on that promise. Our consular teams at the embassy and four consulates work tirelessly to ensure that we meet the surging demand,” a statement from US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, read. Also read: ‘GDP measured in radicalisation,’ India’s Jaishankar takes a dig at Pakistan in UNGA address "The US Mission to India has already surpassed one million nonimmigrant visa applications for the second consecutive year.  During our student visa season this summer, we continued to process record numbers, and all first-time student applicants were able to obtain an appointment at one of our five consular sections around India," a post shared by the US Embassy in India said. As per the statement from the US Mission, in 2024 so far, over 1.2 million Indians have travelled to the United States, marking a 35% rise compared to the same time frame in 2023. Currently, at least six million Indians hold non-immigrant visas to visit the US, and every day, the US Mission is issuing thousands more, the statement added. (With inputs from agencies)

US opens 250,000 more visa appointments for Indian tourists, students after PM Modi's visit

Vishwa Nath Jha, the&nbsp;founder and CEO of&nbsp;Saarthi AI&nbsp;claims&nbsp;that his passport containing an American&nbsp;visa has been stolen by an ex-employee after&nbsp;the mass layoff conducted last year. This comes amid&nbsp;allegations that the company has withheld the salaries of several employees since March 2023.&nbsp;

Jha told the news agency PTI that the company had been forced to lay off several employees to become profitable. He said&nbsp;investor pressure was the main reason behind the mass layoffs. Now, the CEO claims that his passport was stolen by a former employee and it had this visa to the United States.&nbsp;

Speaking to the website Entrackr he claimed that a senior employee stole his passport, making it difficult for him to travel abroad and raise funds for the already troubled firm. Jha said, “While I managed to reissue a new passport, I am yet to get the US visa again. It’s a long queue.”&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/money-wise-how-can-indian-market-investors-be-saved-from-sudden-crises-like-hindenburg-adani-case-750619">Money-Wise: How can Indian market investors be saved from sudden crises like Hindenburg-Adani case?</a>

He also rejected the allegations against the company and said no salaries have been withheld calling it false claims to defame the company. Jha said, “We’re planning to fill key positions as it negotiates deals [business] with several banks and NBFCs.”

Last year in September, Saarthi AI reportedly conducted a mass layoff which reduced the company’s workforce to 40 employees. A report by Entrackr citing several employees said they hadn’t received their pending salaries.&nbsp;

A former employee told the website: “The firm has been holding salaries of more than 50 employees for over a year now and even didn’t reply to legal notices. ​​The founder has been unresponsive and even mentioned that he doesn’t owe us any explanation on multiple occasions.”&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/mars-to-acquire-pringles-maker-kellanova-for-nearly-36-bn-750149">Mars to acquire Pringles maker Kellanova for nearly $36 billion</a>

The company’s CEO accepted that they are not depositing the TDS of employees for the last two fiscal years.

Jha said, “The startup is still not generating surplus cash to clear long-standing dues. We have been transparent in our communications with the concerned ex-team members. We are working hard to become operationally cash flow positive by Q2 of 2024 to sustain company operations and support our current team members. Additionally, Saarthi.ai is actively in talks with investors to raise fresh capital to address outstanding debts and liabilities.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Vishwa Nath Jha, the founder and CEO of Saarthi AI claims that his passport containing an American visa has been stolen by an ex-employee after the mass layoff conducted last year.

Vishwa Nath Jha, the founder and CEO of Saarthi AI claims that his passport containing an American visa has been stolen by an ex-employee after the mass layoff conducted last year. This comes amid allegations that the company has withheld the salaries of several employees since March 2023. Jha told the news agency PTI that the company had been forced to lay off several employees to become profitable. He said investor pressure was the main reason behind the mass layoffs. Now, the CEO claims that his passport was stolen by a former employee and it had this visa to the United States. Speaking to the website Entrackr he claimed that a senior employee stole his passport, making it difficult for him to travel abroad and raise funds for the already troubled firm. Jha said, “While I managed to reissue a new passport, I am yet to get the US visa again. It’s a long queue.” Also Read | Money-Wise: How can Indian market investors be saved from sudden crises like Hindenburg-Adani case? He also rejected the allegations against the company and said no salaries have been withheld calling it false claims to defame the company. Jha said, “We’re planning to fill key positions as it negotiates deals [business] with several banks and NBFCs.” Last year in September, Saarthi AI reportedly conducted a mass layoff which reduced the company’s workforce to 40 employees. A report by Entrackr citing several employees said they hadn’t received their pending salaries. A former employee told the website: “The firm has been holding salaries of more than 50 employees for over a year now and even didn’t reply to legal notices. The founder has been unresponsive and even mentioned that he doesn’t owe us any explanation on multiple occasions.” Also Read | Mars to acquire Pringles maker Kellanova for nearly $36 billion The company’s CEO accepted that they are not depositing the TDS of employees for the last two fiscal years. Jha said, “The startup is still not generating surplus cash to clear long-standing dues. We have been transparent in our communications with the concerned ex-team members. We are working hard to become operationally cash flow positive by Q2 of 2024 to sustain company operations and support our current team members. Additionally, Saarthi.ai is actively in talks with investors to raise fresh capital to address outstanding debts and liabilities.” (With inputs from agencies)

CEO of Saarthi AI claims ex-employee stole his passport with US visa

Arun Yogiraj, the celebrated Indian sculptor known for carving the Ram Lalla idol installed at the newly constructed grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, has been denied a US visa, it emerged on Wednesday (August 14).

Yogiraj was scheduled to attend the 12th AKKA World Kannada Conference (WKC 2024) in Virginia, scheduled to be held between&nbsp;August 30 and&nbsp;September 1.

Yogiraj had received a formal invitation to the conference. The invitation letter praised his work, and stated:&nbsp;"Your remarkable contributions to the field of sculpture have caught our attention, and we believe that your artistic vision would greatly enrich our conference. Your work embodies the spirit of creativity and innovation, qualities that align perfectly with the objectives of our event."

Yogiraj’s family expressed&nbsp;surprise at the visa denial by the US authorities, as his wife, Vijeta, had previously travelled to the US without any issues. The family told media publications that the sole purpose of their trip was to attend the conference, after which they planned to return to India.

"I don’t know any reasons why it was denied, but we have submitted all the documents related to the visa," Yogiraj said.

Yogiraj's artistic journey began at a young age as he was&nbsp;inspired by his father and grandfather, both of whom were renowned sculptors.

Also watch |&nbsp;Arun Yogiraj speaks about inspiration behind idol of Lord Ram

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After a brief stint in the corporate world, he returned to his passion for sculpting in 2008. In addition to the Ram Lalla idol, his notable works include a 30-foot statue of Subhash Chandra Bose near India Gate, a 12-foot sculpture of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath, and a 21-foot Hanuman statue in Mysore.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ram-lallas-eyes-were-sculpted-by-arun-yogiraj-in-ayodhya-in-just-20-minutes-685014">Ram Lalla's eyes were sculpted in just 20 minutes, Arun Yogiraj tells WION</a>

The AKKA World Kannada Conference is a biennial event that brings together the Kannada-speaking diaspora from North America and around the world. It aims to celebrate the community's achievements while preserving the Kannada language and culture for future generations. Previous conferences have been held in major cities such as Houston, Washington D.C., and Dallas.

Arun Yogiraj, the celebrated Indian sculptor known for carving the Ram Lalla idol installed at the newly constructed grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, has been denied a US visa, it emerged on Wednesday (August 14).

Arun Yogiraj, the celebrated Indian sculptor known for carving the Ram Lalla idol installed at the newly constructed grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, has been denied a US visa, it emerged on Wednesday (August 14). Yogiraj was scheduled to attend the 12th AKKA World Kannada Conference (WKC 2024) in Virginia, scheduled to be held between August 30 and September 1. Yogiraj had received a formal invitation to the conference. The invitation letter praised his work, and stated: "Your remarkable contributions to the field of sculpture have caught our attention, and we believe that your artistic vision would greatly enrich our conference. Your work embodies the spirit of creativity and innovation, qualities that align perfectly with the objectives of our event." Yogiraj’s family expressed surprise at the visa denial by the US authorities, as his wife, Vijeta, had previously travelled to the US without any issues. The family told media publications that the sole purpose of their trip was to attend the conference, after which they planned to return to India. "I don’t know any reasons why it was denied, but we have submitted all the documents related to the visa," Yogiraj said. Yogiraj's artistic journey began at a young age as he was inspired by his father and grandfather, both of whom were renowned sculptors. Also watch | Arun Yogiraj speaks about inspiration behind idol of Lord Ram × After a brief stint in the corporate world, he returned to his passion for sculpting in 2008. In addition to the Ram Lalla idol, his notable works include a 30-foot statue of Subhash Chandra Bose near India Gate, a 12-foot sculpture of Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath, and a 21-foot Hanuman statue in Mysore. Also read | Ram Lalla's eyes were sculpted in just 20 minutes, Arun Yogiraj tells WION The AKKA World Kannada Conference is a biennial event that brings together the Kannada-speaking diaspora from North America and around the world. It aims to celebrate the community's achievements while preserving the Kannada language and culture for future generations. Previous conferences have been held in major cities such as Houston, Washington D.C., and Dallas.

Ram Lalla sculptor Arun Yogiraj denied US visa for World Kannada Conference

US H-1B visa-holders&nbsp;who got their visas issued from India or Canada need not leave US just to get them renewed as the online visa renewal drive has kicked off. The pilot programme is a significant change in US visa policy in nearly two decades. There is usually a long wait to get an H-1B visa or carry out related formalities. The online visa renewal is therefore likely to be a great help for these visa holders. The drive has already started on January 29, 2024, and will go on till April 1, 2024.

The US Department of State has made an official announcement about the drive.

<h2>How to renew US H-1B visa through online renewal process?</h2>

As per the US Department of State, qualified H-1B non-immigrant visa holders who fulfil certain requirements can apply to get their visas renewed.

<h2>Eligibility for US H-1B visa online renewal</h2>

Only those H-1B visaholders whose most recent visas have been issued by US Mission Canada or by US Mission India.

In case of US Mission Canada, the date of issuance of the visa must be between January 1, 2020 through April 1, 2023.

In case of US Mission India, the date of issuance must be between February 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021.

<h2>How to renew H-1B visa online?</h2>

The link of the official webpage has been made public by the US State Department.

Step 1: When the visa-holder visits the official webpage, they will have to select the country (India or Canada) from where their most recent H-1B visa was issued. A navigator tool will then lead the visa-holder to a webpage where they can check their eligibility for the pilot online visa renewal programme.

Step 2: If the visa holder is eligible for the programme, they will be asked to follow instructions on the webpage and will have to fill and submit form DS-160. This form is called Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application.

Step 3: The applicant will then be asked to pay a non-transferrable, non-refundable Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) application processing fee. The fee is $205.

Step 4: The visa holder can then follow instructions on the portal to mail passport and other documents for visa renewal process.

Watch | Canada caps international student permits by one-third

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&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-based-tech-entrepreneur-donates-1375-mln-to-alma-mater-iit-madras-685187">US-based tech entrepreneur donates $13.75 million to alma mater IIT-Madras</a> 
&nbsp;

<h2>Slots for US H-1B visa renewal</h2>

A maximum of 20,000 slots will be made available for the visa renewal.

The slots will be released on following dates:&nbsp;

January 29, 2024 
February 5, 2024&nbsp; 
February 12, 2024 
February 19, 2024&nbsp; 
February 26, 2024

The applications will be made on these dates and will be processed on a first-come first-serve basis.

H-1B visa-holders may want to hurry as the drive will last only till April 1, 2024 or when 20,000 slots are filled, whichever comes first.

US H-1B visa-holders who got their visas issued from India or Canada need not leave US just to get them renewed as the online visa renewal drive has kicked off. The pilot programme is a significant change in US visa policy in nearly two decades.

US H-1B visa-holders who got their visas issued from India or Canada need not leave US just to get them renewed as the online visa renewal drive has kicked off. The pilot programme is a significant change in US visa policy in nearly two decades. There is usually a long wait to get an H-1B visa or carry out related formalities. The online visa renewal is therefore likely to be a great help for these visa holders. The drive has already started on January 29, 2024, and will go on till April 1, 2024. The US Department of State has made an official announcement about the drive. How to renew US H-1B visa through online renewal process? As per the US Department of State, qualified H-1B non-immigrant visa holders who fulfil certain requirements can apply to get their visas renewed. Eligibility for US H-1B visa online renewal Only those H-1B visaholders whose most recent visas have been issued by US Mission Canada or by US Mission India. In case of US Mission Canada, the date of issuance of the visa must be between January 1, 2020 through April 1, 2023. In case of US Mission India, the date of issuance must be between February 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021. How to renew H-1B visa online? The link of the official webpage has been made public by the US State Department. Step 1: When the visa-holder visits the official webpage, they will have to select the country (India or Canada) from where their most recent H-1B visa was issued. A navigator tool will then lead the visa-holder to a webpage where they can check their eligibility for the pilot online visa renewal programme. Step 2: If the visa holder is eligible for the programme, they will be asked to follow instructions on the webpage and will have to fill and submit form DS-160. This form is called Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. Step 3: The applicant will then be asked to pay a non-transferrable, non-refundable Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) application processing fee. The fee is $205. Step 4: The visa holder can then follow instructions on the portal to mail passport and other documents for visa renewal process. Watch | Canada caps international student permits by one-third × Also Read | US-based tech entrepreneur donates $13.75 million to alma mater IIT-Madras Slots for US H-1B visa renewal A maximum of 20,000 slots will be made available for the visa renewal. The slots will be released on following dates: January 29, 2024 February 5, 2024 February 12, 2024 February 19, 2024 February 26, 2024 The applications will be made on these dates and will be processed on a first-come first-serve basis. H-1B visa-holders may want to hurry as the drive will last only till April 1, 2024 or when 20,000 slots are filled, whichever comes first.

US H-1B visa renewal drive begins online. Here's how to apply

The United States issued a record 1.4 million visas for Indians in the year 2023, which is the highest so far, slashing the visitor visa appointment wait time&nbsp;by 75 per cent.

The US Embassy and Consulates in India released a statement saying that now Indians represent one out of every 10 US visa applicants around the globe.

"In 2023, the US Embassy and Consulates in India processed a record-smashing 1.4 million US visas. Demand across all visa classes was unprecedented, with a 60 per cent increase in applications compared to 2022. Indians now represent one out of every ten US visa applicants around the world," the statement read.

With more than 7,00,000 applicants, visitor or B1 and B2 visas now recuperate to represent the second-highest number of applications in the history of the US Mission.

The improvements made in the process and the increase in the number of staff members have been dubbed as the reason behind increased efficiency in the process.

Reportedly, the appointment wait time for visitor visas has come down to only 250 days around the country from an average of 1,000 days with minimal wait time in all categories around the country.

The US consular team in India issued over 140,000 student visas in the year 2023, which is more than in any other country in the world setting a record for the third consecutive year.

“Taken individually, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai now stand as the top four student visa processing posts in the world. As a result of these surging numbers, Indian students have become the largest group of international graduate students in the US and make up more than a quarter of the over one million foreign students studying in the US,” the statement said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/massive-security-breach-at-delhi-airport-leads-to-suspension-of-security-personnel-684632">Man enters Delhi airport runway in major security breach; CISF personnel suspended</a>

<h2>'Employment visas remain top priority'</h2>

The US Embassy and Consulates furthermore added that employment visas remain a top priority.

Consular Team India consolidated most petition-based visa processing in Chennai and Hyderabad to increase efficiency, leading to the processing of over 3,80,000 employment visas for Indians and their family members in 2023 and allowing the US Mission to "maintain a minimal appointment wait time" for the visa applications.

In another significant development, a pilot program in 2024 would allow eligible H1B holders to renew their visas in the United States, further simplifying the process for this group.

The ones who have a pending immigrant visa petition and are ready for scheduling can now obtain an appointment within the standard, pre-pandemic appointment window, it stated.

"The US Mission continues to invest in the future of consular services in India and explore ways to provide more efficient and convenient services. These investments have included the opening of a new USD 340 million facility in Hyderabad in March 2023, the announcement of two new consulates in Ahmedabad and Bangalore, continued capital improvements to our facilities around the country, and the permanent assignment of more consular officers to India," the US Embassy and Consulates said in the statement.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States issued a record 1.4 million visas for Indians in the year 2023, which is the highest so far, slashing the visitor visa appointment wait time by 75 per cent.

The United States issued a record 1.4 million visas for Indians in the year 2023, which is the highest so far, slashing the visitor visa appointment wait time by 75 per cent. The US Embassy and Consulates in India released a statement saying that now Indians represent one out of every 10 US visa applicants around the globe. "In 2023, the US Embassy and Consulates in India processed a record-smashing 1.4 million US visas. Demand across all visa classes was unprecedented, with a 60 per cent increase in applications compared to 2022. Indians now represent one out of every ten US visa applicants around the world," the statement read. With more than 7,00,000 applicants, visitor or B1 and B2 visas now recuperate to represent the second-highest number of applications in the history of the US Mission. The improvements made in the process and the increase in the number of staff members have been dubbed as the reason behind increased efficiency in the process. Reportedly, the appointment wait time for visitor visas has come down to only 250 days around the country from an average of 1,000 days with minimal wait time in all categories around the country. The US consular team in India issued over 140,000 student visas in the year 2023, which is more than in any other country in the world setting a record for the third consecutive year. “Taken individually, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai now stand as the top four student visa processing posts in the world. As a result of these surging numbers, Indian students have become the largest group of international graduate students in the US and make up more than a quarter of the over one million foreign students studying in the US,” the statement said. Also read: Man enters Delhi airport runway in major security breach; CISF personnel suspended 'Employment visas remain top priority' The US Embassy and Consulates furthermore added that employment visas remain a top priority. Consular Team India consolidated most petition-based visa processing in Chennai and Hyderabad to increase efficiency, leading to the processing of over 3,80,000 employment visas for Indians and their family members in 2023 and allowing the US Mission to "maintain a minimal appointment wait time" for the visa applications. In another significant development, a pilot program in 2024 would allow eligible H1B holders to renew their visas in the United States, further simplifying the process for this group. The ones who have a pending immigrant visa petition and are ready for scheduling can now obtain an appointment within the standard, pre-pandemic appointment window, it stated. "The US Mission continues to invest in the future of consular services in India and explore ways to provide more efficient and convenient services. These investments have included the opening of a new USD 340 million facility in Hyderabad in March 2023, the announcement of two new consulates in Ahmedabad and Bangalore, continued capital improvements to our facilities around the country, and the permanent assignment of more consular officers to India," the US Embassy and Consulates said in the statement. (With inputs from agencies)

US sets visa record in India, processes 1.4 million applications in 2023

With its new anti-immigration policy Pakistan has so far deported thousands of Afghans to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Unfortunately, it has uh repatriated scores of Afghans awaiting resettlement in the US under this drive quoting sources from advocacy groups.

Report: Afghans awaiting US resettlement deported by Pakistan

The United States has expanded its visa restriction policy for Ugandan officials. This comes as authorities in Uganda are accused of undermining democracy and oppressing marginalised groups.

US restricts visa for Uganda, Zimbabwe officials, restrictions for undermining democracy | WION

US expanded its visa restriction policy for Uganda. This comes after Uganda authorities are accused of undermining democracy and oppressing marginalized groups.

US restricts visa for Uganda and Zimbabwe officials

The US Mission in India on Thursday surpassed its goal of processing one million non-immigrant visa applications this year. Watch the video to know more.

Highest number of Indian students studying abroad are in US; 140,000 student visas issued to Indians

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti informed on Thursday (Sep 28) that the country's embassy and other consulates had processed a million visa applications this year.&nbsp;

According to an official release from the US Embassy in India, the mission has already surpassed the total number of cases that were processed in 2022. It added that&nbsp;almost 20 per cent more applications were being processed compared to&nbsp;pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), the US Embassy said it had surpassed its goals for the year but will not stop here.&nbsp;

"We will not stop here and continue our progress in coming months, to give as many Indian applicants the opportunity to travel to the United States."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-opposes-controversial-us-visa-policy-627473">Watch |&nbsp;India opposes controversial US visa policy</a>

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<h2>Change in strategy&nbsp;</h2>

Speaking about the changes implemented to hit such high numbers, Garcetti revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden had requested to move visas faster. Consequently, more personnel were brought on board and an overhaul of the system was implemented.&nbsp;

"PM Modi &amp; President Biden had said let's do a better job of moving faster on visas. So, MEA here approved more bodies in places like Hyderabad, more people who can work on visas, we changed our systems, worked harder and smarter and we have processed a million visa applications this year today officially. We just have to continue to prepare for the future," Garcetti told news agency ANI.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/garcetti-says-india-pakistan-need-to-resolve-issue-after-us-diplomats-secret-visit-to-pok-639815">Also read |&nbsp;Garcetti says India, Pakistan need to resolve issue after US diplomat's secret visit to PoK</a>

Garcetti added that the high number of visas reflected the growing people-to-people relationship between India and the USA.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Our partnership with India is one of the United States’ most important bilateral relationships and in fact one of the most important relationships in the world," he said.&nbsp;

"The ties between our people are stronger than ever, and we will continue our record-setting volume of visa work in the coming months to give as many Indian applicants as possible the opportunity to travel to the United States and experience the US-India friendship firsthand.”

Notably, earlier this week, the US Embassy said it had issued a record number of 90,000 visas to Indian students this summer alone. Between June and August, one in four student visas worldwide was issued to an Indian.&nbsp;

In 2022, a record-breaking&nbsp;125,000 US student visas were issued to Indians last year, surpassing any other nationality.

(With inputs from agencies)

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US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti informed on Thursday (Sep 28) that the country's embassy and other consulates had processed a million visa applications this year.

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti informed on Thursday (Sep 28) that the country's embassy and other consulates had processed a million visa applications this year. According to an official release from the US Embassy in India, the mission has already surpassed the total number of cases that were processed in 2022. It added that almost 20 per cent more applications were being processed compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), the US Embassy said it had surpassed its goals for the year but will not stop here. "We will not stop here and continue our progress in coming months, to give as many Indian applicants the opportunity to travel to the United States." Watch | India opposes controversial US visa policy × Change in strategy Speaking about the changes implemented to hit such high numbers, Garcetti revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden had requested to move visas faster. Consequently, more personnel were brought on board and an overhaul of the system was implemented. "PM Modi & President Biden had said let's do a better job of moving faster on visas. So, MEA here approved more bodies in places like Hyderabad, more people who can work on visas, we changed our systems, worked harder and smarter and we have processed a million visa applications this year today officially. We just have to continue to prepare for the future," Garcetti told news agency ANI. Also read | Garcetti says India, Pakistan need to resolve issue after US diplomat's secret visit to PoK Garcetti added that the high number of visas reflected the growing people-to-people relationship between India and the USA. "Our partnership with India is one of the United States’ most important bilateral relationships and in fact one of the most important relationships in the world," he said. "The ties between our people are stronger than ever, and we will continue our record-setting volume of visa work in the coming months to give as many Indian applicants as possible the opportunity to travel to the United States and experience the US-India friendship firsthand.” Notably, earlier this week, the US Embassy said it had issued a record number of 90,000 visas to Indian students this summer alone. Between June and August, one in four student visas worldwide was issued to an Indian. In 2022, a record-breaking 125,000 US student visas were issued to Indians last year, surpassing any other nationality. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US processes 1 million visas to Indians in 2023, ambassador Eric Garcetti says more to come

The United States has said it is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi nationals who are seen to be interfering in or "undermining" the upcoming democratic election process in the South Asian nation. 
 
General elections are supposed to be held in Bangladesh in late December or January 2024.

Reacting to the US announcement made on Friday, Bangladesh said though the development is "not a pleasing experience", Dhaka is "not worried" as it is doing nothing wrong.

"Today, the (US) Department of State is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals responsible for or complicit in undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh," US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

"These persons and members of their immediate family may be found ineligible for entry into the United States," the statement said.

Individuals, including members of law enforcement agencies, the ruling party, and the political opposition would come under the purview of the restriction as the "United States is committed to supporting free and fair elections in Bangladesh that are carried out in a peaceful manner," it said.

Miller said the US action reflects the continued commitment of America to support Bangladesh's goal of peacefully holding free and fair national elections, and to support those seeking to advance democracy globally.

US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya shared the announcement on her account on X, formerly Twitter, just hours after she met with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in New York to join the UN General Assembly's annual meeting. 
 
Bryan Schiller, spokesperson of the US embassy in Dhaka, said the United States has by now enforced visa restrictions against some members of law enforcement agencies, ruling party officials and opposition activists.

The restrictions were imposed after the US cautiously reviewed the evidence against the individuals, he said.

Schiller, however, declined to disclose the names, calling the list "secret visa records". 
In a media briefing hours after the US announcement, Bangladesh's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said his country has nothing to lose.

"We have nothing to lose, we are not worried about it because we are not doing anything wrong," he said.

The development is "not a pleasing experience" but "we have to go through it", he said. He said he expected the US government to enforce the new visa restriction policy after reviewing facts and figures in a fair manner.

The junior foreign minister said Washington has given Dhaka an idea of the number of individuals who will face the visa restrictions.&nbsp;

"What I can tell you is that the number is small," he said.

Alam said the government believes the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh's main opposition party, and its fundamentalist ally Jamaat-e-Islami appear more vulnerable to the US visa restrictions as they were involved in acts aimed at foiling the next election.

The BNP has been campaigning to restore a non-party caretaker government to oversee the elections, claiming that no polls under Hasina's administration would be free. 
It has staged a series of protests demanding Hasina's resignation to allow a non-party caretaker government to oversee the polls. 
 
The BNP and other opposition groups accuse the ruling Awami League of gross rights abuses like murders and forced disappearances, and corruption. The government has repeatedly denied the allegations.

The US had earlier questioned Bangladesh's human rights situation and political inclusiveness. Last year, it slapped visa restrictions on several current and former officials of the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on charges of alleged extra-judicial killings.

Prime Minister Hasina had sternly criticised the US action, saying she believed America did not want her government to remain in power.

She had also hinted that the US wanted military access to St Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal, an allegation denied by the State Department.

Friday's development came a day after the European Union (EU) said it would not deploy a full election observer team to Bangladesh, citing a lack of "necessary conditions".

EU ambassador Charles Whiteley on Thursday said the bloc would not deploy a "fully-fledged" observer mission. While the EU took into account budget constraints, it said the decision also "reflects the fact that at the present time, it is not sufficiently clear whether the necessary conditions will be met".

The EU is Bangladesh's largest trade partner. The 27-member bloc is the destination of more than half of the South Asian nation's USD 55 billion export merchandise.

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The United States has said it is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi nationals who are seen to be interfering in or "undermining" the upcoming democratic election process in the South Asian nation.

The United States has said it is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi nationals who are seen to be interfering in or "undermining" the upcoming democratic election process in the South Asian nation. General elections are supposed to be held in Bangladesh in late December or January 2024. Reacting to the US announcement made on Friday, Bangladesh said though the development is "not a pleasing experience", Dhaka is "not worried" as it is doing nothing wrong. "Today, the (US) Department of State is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals responsible for or complicit in undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh," US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. "These persons and members of their immediate family may be found ineligible for entry into the United States," the statement said. Individuals, including members of law enforcement agencies, the ruling party, and the political opposition would come under the purview of the restriction as the "United States is committed to supporting free and fair elections in Bangladesh that are carried out in a peaceful manner," it said. Miller said the US action reflects the continued commitment of America to support Bangladesh's goal of peacefully holding free and fair national elections, and to support those seeking to advance democracy globally. US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya shared the announcement on her account on X, formerly Twitter, just hours after she met with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in New York to join the UN General Assembly's annual meeting. Bryan Schiller, spokesperson of the US embassy in Dhaka, said the United States has by now enforced visa restrictions against some members of law enforcement agencies, ruling party officials and opposition activists. The restrictions were imposed after the US cautiously reviewed the evidence against the individuals, he said. Schiller, however, declined to disclose the names, calling the list "secret visa records". In a media briefing hours after the US announcement, Bangladesh's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said his country has nothing to lose. "We have nothing to lose, we are not worried about it because we are not doing anything wrong," he said. The development is "not a pleasing experience" but "we have to go through it", he said. He said he expected the US government to enforce the new visa restriction policy after reviewing facts and figures in a fair manner. The junior foreign minister said Washington has given Dhaka an idea of the number of individuals who will face the visa restrictions. "What I can tell you is that the number is small," he said. Alam said the government believes the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh's main opposition party, and its fundamentalist ally Jamaat-e-Islami appear more vulnerable to the US visa restrictions as they were involved in acts aimed at foiling the next election. The BNP has been campaigning to restore a non-party caretaker government to oversee the elections, claiming that no polls under Hasina's administration would be free. It has staged a series of protests demanding Hasina's resignation to allow a non-party caretaker government to oversee the polls. The BNP and other opposition groups accuse the ruling Awami League of gross rights abuses like murders and forced disappearances, and corruption. The government has repeatedly denied the allegations. The US had earlier questioned Bangladesh's human rights situation and political inclusiveness. Last year, it slapped visa restrictions on several current and former officials of the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on charges of alleged extra-judicial killings. Prime Minister Hasina had sternly criticised the US action, saying she believed America did not want her government to remain in power. She had also hinted that the US wanted military access to St Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal, an allegation denied by the State Department. Friday's development came a day after the European Union (EU) said it would not deploy a full election observer team to Bangladesh, citing a lack of "necessary conditions". EU ambassador Charles Whiteley on Thursday said the bloc would not deploy a "fully-fledged" observer mission. While the EU took into account budget constraints, it said the decision also "reflects the fact that at the present time, it is not sufficiently clear whether the necessary conditions will be met". The EU is Bangladesh's largest trade partner. The 27-member bloc is the destination of more than half of the South Asian nation's USD 55 billion export merchandise. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US says will impose visa restrictions on individuals 'undermining' Bangladesh elections

Canada announced a new open work permit for H-1B visa holders in the United States, making it easier for H-1B holders to work and study in the country. Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser made the announcement on Tuesday that the government is planning to create an open work permit that will allow 10,000 American H-1B visa holders to come and work in the country.&nbsp;

In the official release, Canada’s Ministry of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship (IRCC) said the program aims to provide study and work permits for the family members of H-1B visa holders.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/reliances-attempt-to-acquire-boots-thwarted-as-walgreens-shelves-sale-plans-609515">Reliance's attempt to acquire Boots thwarted as Walgreens shelves sale plans</a>

"Thousands of workers in high-tech fields are employed with companies that have large operations in both Canada and the US, and those working in the US often hold an H-1B speciality occupation visa. As of July 16, 2023, H-1B speciality occupation visa holders in the US, and their accompanying immediate family members, will be eligible to apply to come to Canada," the release read.

<h2>New Innovation Stream under the IMP</h2>

IRCC will develop a new Innovation Stream under the International Mobility Program to attract highly talented individuals. The government came to this solution after consulting with several tech industry stakeholders. As there are still labour shortages in key tech companies, Canada’s aim will remain at increasing its talent base.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-targets-wagner-group-in-curbs-on-gold-firms-suspected-of-funding-mercenary-force-609505">US targets Wagner Group in curbs on gold firms suspected of funding mercenary force</a>

The Canadian Government will therefore launch a new Innovation Stream by the end of 2023 that will create an exemption from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process to help employers and talented workers support Canada’s innovation priorities and high-tech industries.

IRCC is considering two options:

1. Employer-specific work permits for up to five years for workers destined to work for a company identified by the Government of Canada as contributing to our industrial innovation goal

2. Open work permits for up to five years for highly skilled workers in select in-demand occupations

<h2>New 3-year open work permit for H-1B visa holders</h2>

All the approved applicants under the new decision will receive an open work permit for up to three years in duration.&nbsp;

"They will be able to work for almost any employer anywhere in Canada. Their spouses and dependants will also be eligible to apply for a temporary resident visa, with a work or study permit, as needed," said the release.

Fraser said that by the end of this year, the federal government will be developing an immigration stream for some of the world’s most talented people that will be able to come to Canada to work for tech companies, irrespective of having a job or not, reported CBC News, a Canada-based news outlet.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-from-confinement-to-contentment-rescued-chimp-witnesses-sky-for-first-time-in-28-years-609499">WATCH | From confinement to contentment: Rescued chimp witnesses sky for first time in 28 years</a>

However, the Immigration minister did not explain exactly who will qualify or how many people will be admitted to the stream.&nbsp;

H-1B visas allow foreign nationals to temporarily work in the US in certain specialised occupations, including the technology sector. Tech companies went on a hiring spree during the pandemic but have since started laying people off in large numbers. This has left a lot of H-1B visa holders jobless.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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Canada announced a new open work permit for H-1B visa holders in the United States, making it easier for H-1B holders to work and study in the country. Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser made the announcement on Tuesday that the government is planning to create an open work permit that will allow 10,000 American H-1B visa holders to come and work in the country.

Canada announced a new open work permit for H-1B visa holders in the United States, making it easier for H-1B holders to work and study in the country. Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser made the announcement on Tuesday that the government is planning to create an open work permit that will allow 10,000 American H-1B visa holders to come and work in the country. In the official release, Canada’s Ministry of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship (IRCC) said the program aims to provide study and work permits for the family members of H-1B visa holders. Also Read | Reliance's attempt to acquire Boots thwarted as Walgreens shelves sale plans "Thousands of workers in high-tech fields are employed with companies that have large operations in both Canada and the US, and those working in the US often hold an H-1B speciality occupation visa. As of July 16, 2023, H-1B speciality occupation visa holders in the US, and their accompanying immediate family members, will be eligible to apply to come to Canada," the release read. New Innovation Stream under the IMP IRCC will develop a new Innovation Stream under the International Mobility Program to attract highly talented individuals. The government came to this solution after consulting with several tech industry stakeholders. As there are still labour shortages in key tech companies, Canada’s aim will remain at increasing its talent base. Also Read | US targets Wagner Group in curbs on gold firms suspected of funding mercenary force The Canadian Government will therefore launch a new Innovation Stream by the end of 2023 that will create an exemption from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process to help employers and talented workers support Canada’s innovation priorities and high-tech industries. IRCC is considering two options: 1. Employer-specific work permits for up to five years for workers destined to work for a company identified by the Government of Canada as contributing to our industrial innovation goal 2. Open work permits for up to five years for highly skilled workers in select in-demand occupations New 3-year open work permit for H-1B visa holders All the approved applicants under the new decision will receive an open work permit for up to three years in duration. "They will be able to work for almost any employer anywhere in Canada. Their spouses and dependants will also be eligible to apply for a temporary resident visa, with a work or study permit, as needed," said the release. Fraser said that by the end of this year, the federal government will be developing an immigration stream for some of the world’s most talented people that will be able to come to Canada to work for tech companies, irrespective of having a job or not, reported CBC News, a Canada-based news outlet. Also Read | WATCH | From confinement to contentment: Rescued chimp witnesses sky for first time in 28 years However, the Immigration minister did not explain exactly who will qualify or how many people will be admitted to the stream. H-1B visas allow foreign nationals to temporarily work in the US in certain specialised occupations, including the technology sector. Tech companies went on a hiring spree during the pandemic but have since started laying people off in large numbers. This has left a lot of H-1B visa holders jobless. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Canada announces new 3-year work permit for US H-1B visa holders| Details

Officials in Bangladesh say they will take steps to tackle and prevent unlawful practices or interference in its elections. This comes after US says that it is adopting a new policy to restrict visas for Bangladeshis who undermine the democratic election process at home. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said under the new policy the United States will restrict issuing visas for any Bangladeshi individual involved in undermining the democratic election process.

US says will restricts visas for Bangladeshi nationals, PM Hasina accused of vote manipulation

Officials in Bangladesh say they will take steps to tackle and prevent unlawful practices or interference in its elections. This comes after the US said it is adopting a new policy to restrict visas for Bangladeshis who undermine the democratic election process at home. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said under the new policy the United States will restrict issuing visas for any Bangladeshi individual involved in undermining the democratic election process.

US restricts visas for Bangladeshi nationals, PM Sheikh Hasina accused of vote manipulation

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 for travelling, tourism purposes.

In a note, and a series of tweets, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said on Wednesday when nonimmigrant workers are laid off, they may not be aware of their options and may, in some instances, wrongly assume that they have no option but to leave the country within 60 days.

The move by the USCIS came as thousands of highly skilled foreign-born workers, including Indians, in the US, have lost their jobs due to a series of recent layoffs at companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon.

They are now struggling to find new employment within the stipulated 60-day period under their work visas following the termination of their employment to stay in the country.

The maximum 60-day grace period starts the day after termination of employment, which is typically determined based on the last day for which a salary or wage is paid.

When a nonimmigrant worker's employment is terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily, they typically may take one of the several actions, if eligible, to remain in a period of authorised stay in the United States.

These include filing an application for a change of nonimmigrant status; filing an application for adjustment of status; filing an application for a "compelling circumstances" employment authorisation document; or being the beneficiary of a nonfrivolous petition to change employer.

"If one of these actions occurs within the up to 60-day grace period, the nonimmigrant's period of authorised stay in the United States can exceed 60 days, even if they lose their previous nonimmigrant status," the USCIS said.

If the worker takes no action within the grace period, they and their dependents may then need to depart the United States within 60 days, or when their authorised validity period ends, whichever is shorter, it said.

"Many people have asked if they can look for a new job while in B-1 or B-2 status. The answer is, yes. Searching for employment and interviewing for a position are permissible B-1 or B-2 activities," the USCIS said in a series of tweets.

At the same time, the USCIS said that before beginning any new employment, a petition and request for a change of status from B-1 or B-2 to an employment-authorised status must be approved, and the new status must take effect.

"Alternatively, if the change of status request is denied or the petition for new employment requested consular or port of entry notification, the individual must depart the US and be admitted in an employment-authorised classification before beginning the new employment," the USCIS said.

Amidst massive layoffs in the American tech sector that have resulted in a large number of Indian professionals being jobless, two Indian-American organisations launched an online petition last month, urging US President Joe Biden to extend the grace period of H-1B visas holders from two months to a year.

This means that once fired from a job, a foreign tech worker on H-1B visas would have one year to find a new job instead of the existing duration of 60 days, after which they have to leave the country.

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.

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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.

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 for travelling, tourism purposes. In a note, and a series of tweets, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said on Wednesday when nonimmigrant workers are laid off, they may not be aware of their options and may, in some instances, wrongly assume that they have no option but to leave the country within 60 days. The move by the USCIS came as thousands of highly skilled foreign-born workers, including Indians, in the US, have lost their jobs due to a series of recent layoffs at companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon. They are now struggling to find new employment within the stipulated 60-day period under their work visas following the termination of their employment to stay in the country. The maximum 60-day grace period starts the day after termination of employment, which is typically determined based on the last day for which a salary or wage is paid. When a nonimmigrant worker's employment is terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily, they typically may take one of the several actions, if eligible, to remain in a period of authorised stay in the United States. These include filing an application for a change of nonimmigrant status; filing an application for adjustment of status; filing an application for a "compelling circumstances" employment authorisation document; or being the beneficiary of a nonfrivolous petition to change employer. "If one of these actions occurs within the up to 60-day grace period, the nonimmigrant's period of authorised stay in the United States can exceed 60 days, even if they lose their previous nonimmigrant status," the USCIS said. If the worker takes no action within the grace period, they and their dependents may then need to depart the United States within 60 days, or when their authorised validity period ends, whichever is shorter, it said. "Many people have asked if they can look for a new job while in B-1 or B-2 status. The answer is, yes. Searching for employment and interviewing for a position are permissible B-1 or B-2 activities," the USCIS said in a series of tweets. At the same time, the USCIS said that before beginning any new employment, a petition and request for a change of status from B-1 or B-2 to an employment-authorised status must be approved, and the new status must take effect. "Alternatively, if the change of status request is denied or the petition for new employment requested consular or port of entry notification, the individual must depart the US and be admitted in an employment-authorised classification before beginning the new employment," the USCIS said. Amidst massive layoffs in the American tech sector that have resulted in a large number of Indian professionals being jobless, two Indian-American organisations launched an online petition last month, urging US President Joe Biden to extend the grace period of H-1B visas holders from two months to a year. This means that once fired from a job, a foreign tech worker on H-1B visas would have one year to find a new job instead of the existing duration of 60 days, after which they have to leave the country. 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. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

One can apply for jobs, give interviews while on tourist or business visa in US: Federal agency

The US government has received a recommendation from a presidential advisory sub-committee to extend the grace period for H1-B workers, who have lost their jobs recently. If it is implemented, it would allow laid off workers on H1-B visas to find new jobs without the fear of having to return to their home countries too soon. Indians account for the majority of H1-B visa holders.

The extension proposed to be given from the existing 60 days to 180 days in order to provide the workers with enough opportunities to find a new job or other alternatives.&nbsp;

The development comes amid mass layoffs of&nbsp;employees, especially Indians, at big companies like Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, Twitter, etc. The firing emerged as a massive concern for many regarding job security.&nbsp;

As quoted by the news agency PTI, Ajay Jain Bhutoria, who is a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, said on Tuesday: "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."&nbsp;

He said in his presentation that the significant challenges faced by H1-B workers laid off from their jobs. The current 60-day grace period presents numerous hurdles, including finding a new job within a tight timeframe, complex paperwork for transferring H1-B status, and delays in processing at USCIS.&nbsp;

Bhutoria also told members of the advisory committee that as a result, many H1-B workers are forced to leave the country which could result in a loss of skilled labour for the United States.&nbsp;

He said that the extension would also provide affected employees with more time to navigate the complex and time-consuming process of finding new employment opportunities and transferring their H1-B status.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The US government has received a recommendation from a presidential advisory sub-committee to extend the grace period for H1-B workers, who have lost their jobs recently.

The US government has received a recommendation from a presidential advisory sub-committee to extend the grace period for H1-B workers, who have lost their jobs recently. If it is implemented, it would allow laid off workers on H1-B visas to find new jobs without the fear of having to return to their home countries too soon. Indians account for the majority of H1-B visa holders. The extension proposed to be given from the existing 60 days to 180 days in order to provide the workers with enough opportunities to find a new job or other alternatives. The development comes amid mass layoffs of employees, especially Indians, at big companies like Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, Twitter, etc. The firing emerged as a massive concern for many regarding job security. As quoted by the news agency PTI, Ajay Jain Bhutoria, who is a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, said on Tuesday: "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." He said in his presentation that the significant challenges faced by H1-B workers laid off from their jobs. The current 60-day grace period presents numerous hurdles, including finding a new job within a tight timeframe, complex paperwork for transferring H1-B status, and delays in processing at USCIS. Bhutoria also told members of the advisory committee that as a result, many H1-B workers are forced to leave the country which could result in a loss of skilled labour for the United States. He said that the extension would also provide affected employees with more time to navigate the complex and time-consuming process of finding new employment opportunities and transferring their H1-B status. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US advisory panel recommends extension of grace period for H1B visa holders amid mass layoffs

Those seeking an appointment for US B1 and B2 visa (travel and business) urgently and wanting to avoid long waiting periods in India can now travel to other countries to the US embassy or consulate.&nbsp;The US mission in New Delhi on Friday announced that this new facility has been opened in Thailand and will soon be made accessible in other countries.

"Do you have upcoming international travel? If so, you may be able to get a visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your destination. For example, @USEmbassyBKK has opened B1/B2 appointment capacity for Indians who will be in Thailand in the coming months," US embassy, India, tweeted.

On average, the waiting period in India’s northeastern Kolkata state is 589 days, and 638 days in Mumbai, as opposed to just 14 days in Bangkok.

The US has been accelerating work to reduce the longer waiting hours to process visas for Indians.

From arranging special interviews for first-time applicants and expanding the strength of consular workers, to holding "special Saturday interview days" on January 21, the US embassy has been implementing a multi-pronged approach to reduce the delays.

For applicants with prior US visas, the US State Department has also instituted remote processing of interview waiver instances.

More than 250,000 additional B1/B2 appointments were made public two weeks ago by the US mission in India.

A senior US visa officer told PTI news agency recently that the US is "putting every ounce of its energy" into reducing the lengthy visa wait time in India.

This includes sending a team of consular officers to the nation and making its other overseas embassies, including those in Germany and Thailand, open to Indian citizens seeking visas.

India has been one of the few countries where applications for US visas saw a major upswing after Covid-related travel restrictions were lifted.

India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar had raised this issue in September with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Those seeking an appointment for US B1 and B2 visa (travel and business) urgently and wanting to avoid long waiting periods in India can now travel to other countries to the US embassy or consulate.

Those seeking an appointment for US B1 and B2 visa (travel and business) urgently and wanting to avoid long waiting periods in India can now travel to other countries to the US embassy or consulate. The US mission in New Delhi on Friday announced that this new facility has been opened in Thailand and will soon be made accessible in other countries. "Do you have upcoming international travel? If so, you may be able to get a visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your destination. For example, @USEmbassyBKK has opened B1/B2 appointment capacity for Indians who will be in Thailand in the coming months," US embassy, India, tweeted. On average, the waiting period in India’s northeastern Kolkata state is 589 days, and 638 days in Mumbai, as opposed to just 14 days in Bangkok. The US has been accelerating work to reduce the longer waiting hours to process visas for Indians. From arranging special interviews for first-time applicants and expanding the strength of consular workers, to holding "special Saturday interview days" on January 21, the US embassy has been implementing a multi-pronged approach to reduce the delays. For applicants with prior US visas, the US State Department has also instituted remote processing of interview waiver instances. More than 250,000 additional B1/B2 appointments were made public two weeks ago by the US mission in India. A senior US visa officer told PTI news agency recently that the US is "putting every ounce of its energy" into reducing the lengthy visa wait time in India. This includes sending a team of consular officers to the nation and making its other overseas embassies, including those in Germany and Thailand, open to Indian citizens seeking visas. India has been one of the few countries where applications for US visas saw a major upswing after Covid-related travel restrictions were lifted. India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar had raised this issue in September with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indians seeking American visa appointments can now go to US embassies abroad

The U.S. Immigration Services have proposed a steep hike for Visa fees. The proposal is for multiple Visa types, including the H1-B visa. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

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Are you applying for a U.S. Visa? You may have to wait until 2024 to get one. The waiting period for a U.S. Visa in New Delhi is 800 days. What explains this backlog? Priyanka Sharma explains.

Gravitas: Why are American visas taking so long?

Covid restrictions have been lifted in several parts of the world and people are ready to travel again but if you want to visit the US, it looks like you might have to wait till 2024. As the waiting time for US visa appointment in New Delhi is 833 days, that is almost a two-year-long wait.

Indians fume as US visa has 800-days waiting period

As on date, the US Mission in India has issued the highest-ever number of student VISAs. The US Embassy in New Delhi and four Consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai prioritised the processing of 82,000 student visa applications from May to August this year. Notably, Indian students received more VISAs to the US, than students from any other nation.

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Charge d’Affaires (CDA) Patricia Lacina said, "We issued over 82,000 student visas this summer alone, more than in any previous year. This shows that the United States remains for most Indian families the most sought-after country for higher education. &nbsp;It also highlights the important contributions Indian students make to both our countries as they build life-long connections with American peers to maintain and grow international partnerships, working collectively to address current and future global challenges.”

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Indian students comprise nearly 20 percent of all international students studying in the United States, with the Open Doors report in 2021 showing there were 167,582 students from India in the 2020-2021 academic year. &nbsp;According to Don Heflin, Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs, International student mobility is central to U.S. diplomacy, and nowhere is the contribution of students bigger than in India. &nbsp;

As on date, the US Mission in India has issued the highest-ever number of student VISAs. The US Embassy in New Delhi and four Consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai prioritised the processing of 82,000 student visa applications from May to August this year.

As on date, the US Mission in India has issued the highest-ever number of student VISAs. The US Embassy in New Delhi and four Consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai prioritised the processing of 82,000 student visa applications from May to August this year. Notably, Indian students received more VISAs to the US, than students from any other nation. Also read | Queen Elizabeth II: How unexpected circumstances led to her coronation in 1952 Charge d’Affaires (CDA) Patricia Lacina said, "We issued over 82,000 student visas this summer alone, more than in any previous year. This shows that the United States remains for most Indian families the most sought-after country for higher education. It also highlights the important contributions Indian students make to both our countries as they build life-long connections with American peers to maintain and grow international partnerships, working collectively to address current and future global challenges.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE - Indian students comprise nearly 20 percent of all international students studying in the United States, with the Open Doors report in 2021 showing there were 167,582 students from India in the 2020-2021 academic year. According to Don Heflin, Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs, International student mobility is central to U.S. diplomacy, and nowhere is the contribution of students bigger than in India.

US issues over 82,000 student VISAs; Indians comprise 20% of all international students in US

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny will remain in detention ahead of hearing scheduled to take place next month. US President Joe Biden has withdrawn plans to shelve H4 work permits that allow spouses of H1-B visa holders to work in US. Meanwhile China has warned Taiwan that independence 'means war'. Read this and more in our Top 10 world news.

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The origin of the virus has become the bone of contention between China and the US with Chinese state media citing the presence of the virus in imported frozen food.

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Thursday's ruling came after Navalny's team called for fresh demonstrations on Sunday against Putin's 20-year rule.

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The US government issues H-4 visa to family members of those who possess the H1-B visa which include spouse and children under 21 years of age.

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Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, reported multiple Chinese fighter jets and bombers entering its southwestern air defence identification zone last weekend, prompting Washington to urge Beijing to stop pressuring Taiwan

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Pfizer/BioNTech, which had previously said it was unlikely that the strain originally found in Britain could escape vaccine protection, said Thursday that early tests suggest their immunisation would be similarly protective against the variant in South Africa

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Social media and online platforms have come under fire globally over the spread of fake news, leading to calls for regulators to force them to do more or face cumbersome rules.

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President Joe Biden has called the initial phase of the vaccination campaign a "dismal failure" and with vaccinations in the United States at around 1 million per day, the new administration wants to expand and improve the program.

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The warning came as the Biden administration works to shore up its Asian alliances against Beijing.

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Pope Francis will visit Ira from March 5 to 8. He has plans of visiting Baghdad, the northern city of Mosul and Ur

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-president-bolsonaro-blasts-media-over-reports-on-condensed-milk-359859"><img alt="Bolsonaro" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d245b15-0bcf-4652-a748-e116200168af" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Bolsonaro.JPG" /></a> 
 
Brazilian social media was flooded with memes linking Bolsonaro with condensed milk on Tuesday -- including one that portrayed soldiers painting a curb with paint cans filled with the viscous liquid

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny will remain in detention ahead of hearing scheduled to take place next month. US President Joe Biden has withdrawn plans to shelve H4 work permits that allow spouses of H1-B visa holders to work in US.

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny will remain in detention ahead of hearing scheduled to take place next month. US President Joe Biden has withdrawn plans to shelve H4 work permits that allow spouses of H1-B visa holders to work in US. Meanwhile China has warned Taiwan that independence 'means war'. Read this and more in our Top 10 world news. WHO must be allowed to work free from political interference: China on virus probe The origin of the virus has become the bone of contention between China and the US with Chinese state media citing the presence of the virus in imported frozen food. Kremlin critic Navalny to remain in detention ahead of hearing next month Thursday's ruling came after Navalny's team called for fresh demonstrations on Sunday against Putin's 20-year rule. President Biden withdraws plans to shelve H4 work permit allowing spouses of H1-B holders to work in US The US government issues H-4 visa to family members of those who possess the H1-B visa which include spouse and children under 21 years of age. China warns Taiwan that independence 'means war' Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, reported multiple Chinese fighter jets and bombers entering its southwestern air defence identification zone last weekend, prompting Washington to urge Beijing to stop pressuring Taiwan Pfizer says Covid vaccine effective against UK, South Africa mutations Pfizer/BioNTech, which had previously said it was unlikely that the strain originally found in Britain could escape vaccine protection, said Thursday that early tests suggest their immunisation would be similarly protective against the variant in South Africa EU tells Google, Facebook and Twitter to extend fake news watch, COVID-19 in focus Social media and online platforms have come under fire globally over the spread of fake news, leading to calls for regulators to force them to do more or face cumbersome rules. Pharma distributors in talks with US for cut of Covid vaccine shipping deal President Joe Biden has called the initial phase of the vaccination campaign a "dismal failure" and with vaccinations in the United States at around 1 million per day, the new administration wants to expand and improve the program. Beijing warns Biden, says containing China is 'mission impossible' The warning came as the Biden administration works to shore up its Asian alliances against Beijing. Pope Francis to meet top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani during Iraq visit Pope Francis will visit Ira from March 5 to 8. He has plans of visiting Baghdad, the northern city of Mosul and Ur Brazil President Bolsonaro blasts media over reports on condensed milk Brazilian social media was flooded with memes linking Bolsonaro with condensed milk on Tuesday -- including one that portrayed soldiers painting a curb with paint cans filled with the viscous liquid

Top 10 world news: Navalny to remain detained, H4 work permits may continue, and more

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday said that the country will impose visa restrictions on Chinese nationals who are engaged in overseas influence operations or have tried to silent dissent via threatening or any other coercive tactics.&nbsp;

"The United Front frequently intimidates members of academia, businesses, civil society groups, and Chinese diaspora communities, including members of ethnic and religious minority communities who speak out against horrific human rights abuses taking place in Xinjiang, Tibet, and elsewhere in China," said Pompeo, as quoted by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) United Front Work Department has been involved in putting pressure on people who slam China for human rights abuses in Uighur region, Tibet, and elsewhere, the secretary of state said.&nbsp;

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He also said the 'coercive tactics' include releasing the personal information of dissenters or their family members online as a means of intimidation, a practice known as "doxing."

The visa restriction would apply to those "who have engaged in the use or threat of physical violence, theft and release of private information, espionage, sabotage, or malicious interference in domestic political affairs, academic freedom, personal privacy, or business activity," said Pompeo.

He said that those people whose actions "contravene the rules-based international order are not welcome" in the US.

The measure is the latest taken by the US against China after it took strict actions against the nation over human rights abuses, coronavirus pandemic and trade among others.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday said that the country will impose visa restrictions on Chinese nationals who are engaged in overseas influence operations or have tried to silent dissent via threatening or any other coercive tactics.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday said that the country will impose visa restrictions on Chinese nationals who are engaged in overseas influence operations or have tried to silent dissent via threatening or any other coercive tactics. "The United Front frequently intimidates members of academia, businesses, civil society groups, and Chinese diaspora communities, including members of ethnic and religious minority communities who speak out against horrific human rights abuses taking place in Xinjiang, Tibet, and elsewhere in China," said Pompeo, as quoted by news agency Reuters. Watch | The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) United Front Work Department has been involved in putting pressure on people who slam China for human rights abuses in Uighur region, Tibet, and elsewhere, the secretary of state said. Also read | US intel chief says China has created biologically enhanced super soldiers He also said the 'coercive tactics' include releasing the personal information of dissenters or their family members online as a means of intimidation, a practice known as "doxing." The visa restriction would apply to those "who have engaged in the use or threat of physical violence, theft and release of private information, espionage, sabotage, or malicious interference in domestic political affairs, academic freedom, personal privacy, or business activity," said Pompeo. He said that those people whose actions "contravene the rules-based international order are not welcome" in the US. The measure is the latest taken by the US against China after it took strict actions against the nation over human rights abuses, coronavirus pandemic and trade among others.

US slaps visa restrictions on Chinese nationals involved in crushing dissent

The Trump administration is rolling out sweeping changes to the test immigrants must take to become U.S. citizens, injecting hints of conservative philosophy and making the test harder for many learners of the English language.

The new citizenship test that went into effect Tuesday is longer than before, with applicants now required to answer 12 out of 20 questions correctly instead of six out of 10. It is also more complex, eliminating simple geography and adding dozens of possible questions, some nuanced and involving complex phrasing, that could trip up applicants who do not consider them carefully.

Of the 18 questions removed from the previous test, 11 were questions that had simple, sometimes one-word answers.

The new test adds one more hurdle for immigrants who hope to become voting citizens, coming in the waning days of an administration that has imposed substantial new barriers to immigration and limits on the ability of those already in the country to aspire to legal residence and, eventually, naturalization.

One test question that has drawn particular scrutiny provides a new answer to the question, “Who does a U.S. Senator represent?” Previously, the answer was “all people of the state”; on the new test, it is “citizens” in the state.

Singled out for a new question is the 10th Amendment, which reserves to the states all powers not specifically granted to the federal government, a part of the Bill of Rights that is a favorite among conservatives questioning federal authority.

Another new question, “Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?” has one answer that is considered correct: “to stop the spread of Communism.” The test does not take on the issue of the vehement protests or the huge death toll stemming from the war.

Immigration organizations, including some that have helped thousands of people complete their naturalization applications over the past decade, warn that the new test could make it harder for poor immigrants from non-English-speaking countries to become citizens and ultimately suppress the number of immigrants who vote.

Critics also said the new test could create even more backlogs in a system already plagued with delays.

“It’s a last-ditch effort on their way out the door for the administration to keep people from realizing their dreams of becoming citizens,” said Eric Cohen, executive director of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco, a nonprofit group that helps permanent residents apply for citizenship.

“There is no legal reason, no regulatory reason to do this,” said Cohen, noting that the citizenship test had remained unchanged since 2008. “They decided on their own that they have to change it for political reasons.”

Dan Hetlage, a spokesman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that oversees the naturalization process, said in a statement that the test was revised “to ensure that it remains an instrument that comprehensively assesses applicants’ knowledge of American history, government and values and supports assimilation.”

President-elect Joe Biden has the option of reversing the changes, though that likely could not occur, if at all, until several months into the new year.

The new test will be required of all applicants who apply for citizenship after Dec. 1, though there is often a lag of several months between when candidates apply and when they are scheduled for an interview with a USCIS officer, meaning that some candidates may still be taking the old test.

The current pass rate for the citizenship test, according to USCIS, is 91%. An analysis of the new test by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network suggested that 40 questions out of the original 100 remained unchanged from the previous version; the rest were reworded or newly introduced.

Already, some immigrants were expressing nervousness about changes to the test.

Nefi Reyes, an electrician from El Salvador who took the earlier test this year, passed with a perfect score. It had been 30 years since he had crossed the border into the United States to escape the civil war in El Salvador, and he voted in the United States for the first time in November.

“I feel lucky that I got it done,” Reyes said of the changes to the test. He had had difficulty memorizing the names of the colonies, he said, and the new test requires applicants to name not three of the original 13 states, as he had managed to do, but five.

Luz Gallegos, executive director of Todec, a nonprofit group that assists immigrants in Southern California, said her organization had seen a rush in immigrants applying to take the citizenship test, not only so they could vote in the November election but also because many hoped to avoid the new test. “As it is, it’s difficult for them to memorize all the answers to the civics test,” she said.

Immigrants are not alone in finding the citizenship test, even in its previous form, challenging. About 1 in 3 Americans could pass a multiple-choice test consisting of items taken from that version, according to a 2018 national survey by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. Most of the respondents did not know how many justices serve on the Supreme Court or which countries the United States fought in World War II.

Citizenship tests have gone through various incarnations since being introduced around a century ago, replacing an earlier system, broadly criticized at the time, in which naturalization judges evaluated immigrants’ knowledge of civics and the English language as they saw fit.

“There was absolutely inconsistency and unfairness in the way that prospective citizens were examined by naturalization judges,” said Jack Schneider, an assistant professor of education at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, noting that such hearings resulted in the rejection of large numbers of applicants.

The test has changed considerably over time. Decades ago, the test asked how tall the Bunker Hill Monument is, missing, critics said, the more important issue of what it stands for. Another question, “How many stars are there on a quarter?” was deleted after it was noted that the right answer depended on the quarter.

The new citizenship test is one of a number of moves made under the Trump administration to not only halt illegal immigration but restrict legal immigration as well. The administration has made it harder for people to obtain asylum, increased the costs of applying for citizenship and, under the cloak of the coronavirus pandemic, suspended the issuance of green cards to immigrants seeking temporary work in the country.

Taken together, these moves amount to a break from what historically had been bipartisan support for naturalization for immigrants who lived and worked in the United States and embraced the opportunity to become citizens.

Applicants must already fill out a 20-page application, pass background checks, submit a bevy of documents, and pass civics and English tests during an interview. The government moved this year to raise fees for naturalization from $725 to $1,170, or $1,160 if the application was filed online, but a federal judge in California blocked the increase in September.

Organizations that offer citizenship classes to help immigrants study for the test are scrambling to revamp their lesson plans to respond to the new questions.

Lynne Weintraub, who trains citizenship instructors and was involved in the design of the 2008 test, said the revisions were adopted without outside professional input that might have helped ensure that the test was a fair and valid measure of applicants’ knowledge of civics.

“You can’t even imagine the turmoil that this has created,” Weintraub said. The new test, she said, presents additional problems for many English language learners by clustering abstract concepts into one phrase in some questions, “making them impossible for immigrants with low English proficiency and less education to follow.”

The Trump administration is rolling out sweeping changes to the test immigrants must take to become U.S. citizens, injecting hints of conservative philosophy and making the test harder for many learners of the English language.

The Trump administration is rolling out sweeping changes to the test immigrants must take to become U.S. citizens, injecting hints of conservative philosophy and making the test harder for many learners of the English language. The new citizenship test that went into effect Tuesday is longer than before, with applicants now required to answer 12 out of 20 questions correctly instead of six out of 10. It is also more complex, eliminating simple geography and adding dozens of possible questions, some nuanced and involving complex phrasing, that could trip up applicants who do not consider them carefully. Of the 18 questions removed from the previous test, 11 were questions that had simple, sometimes one-word answers. The new test adds one more hurdle for immigrants who hope to become voting citizens, coming in the waning days of an administration that has imposed substantial new barriers to immigration and limits on the ability of those already in the country to aspire to legal residence and, eventually, naturalization. One test question that has drawn particular scrutiny provides a new answer to the question, “Who does a U.S. Senator represent?” Previously, the answer was “all people of the state”; on the new test, it is “citizens” in the state. Singled out for a new question is the 10th Amendment, which reserves to the states all powers not specifically granted to the federal government, a part of the Bill of Rights that is a favorite among conservatives questioning federal authority. Another new question, “Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War?” has one answer that is considered correct: “to stop the spread of Communism.” The test does not take on the issue of the vehement protests or the huge death toll stemming from the war. Immigration organizations, including some that have helped thousands of people complete their naturalization applications over the past decade, warn that the new test could make it harder for poor immigrants from non-English-speaking countries to become citizens and ultimately suppress the number of immigrants who vote. Critics also said the new test could create even more backlogs in a system already plagued with delays. “It’s a last-ditch effort on their way out the door for the administration to keep people from realizing their dreams of becoming citizens,” said Eric Cohen, executive director of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco, a nonprofit group that helps permanent residents apply for citizenship. “There is no legal reason, no regulatory reason to do this,” said Cohen, noting that the citizenship test had remained unchanged since 2008. “They decided on their own that they have to change it for political reasons.” Dan Hetlage, a spokesman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that oversees the naturalization process, said in a statement that the test was revised “to ensure that it remains an instrument that comprehensively assesses applicants’ knowledge of American history, government and values and supports assimilation.” President-elect Joe Biden has the option of reversing the changes, though that likely could not occur, if at all, until several months into the new year. The new test will be required of all applicants who apply for citizenship after Dec. 1, though there is often a lag of several months between when candidates apply and when they are scheduled for an interview with a USCIS officer, meaning that some candidates may still be taking the old test. The current pass rate for the citizenship test, according to USCIS, is 91%. An analysis of the new test by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network suggested that 40 questions out of the original 100 remained unchanged from the previous version; the rest were reworded or newly introduced. Already, some immigrants were expressing nervousness about changes to the test. Nefi Reyes, an electrician from El Salvador who took the earlier test this year, passed with a perfect score. It had been 30 years since he had crossed the border into the United States to escape the civil war in El Salvador, and he voted in the United States for the first time in November. “I feel lucky that I got it done,” Reyes said of the changes to the test. He had had difficulty memorizing the names of the colonies, he said, and the new test requires applicants to name not three of the original 13 states, as he had managed to do, but five. Luz Gallegos, executive director of Todec, a nonprofit group that assists immigrants in Southern California, said her organization had seen a rush in immigrants applying to take the citizenship test, not only so they could vote in the November election but also because many hoped to avoid the new test. “As it is, it’s difficult for them to memorize all the answers to the civics test,” she said. Immigrants are not alone in finding the citizenship test, even in its previous form, challenging. About 1 in 3 Americans could pass a multiple-choice test consisting of items taken from that version, according to a 2018 national survey by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. Most of the respondents did not know how many justices serve on the Supreme Court or which countries the United States fought in World War II. Citizenship tests have gone through various incarnations since being introduced around a century ago, replacing an earlier system, broadly criticized at the time, in which naturalization judges evaluated immigrants’ knowledge of civics and the English language as they saw fit. “There was absolutely inconsistency and unfairness in the way that prospective citizens were examined by naturalization judges,” said Jack Schneider, an assistant professor of education at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, noting that such hearings resulted in the rejection of large numbers of applicants. The test has changed considerably over time. Decades ago, the test asked how tall the Bunker Hill Monument is, missing, critics said, the more important issue of what it stands for. Another question, “How many stars are there on a quarter?” was deleted after it was noted that the right answer depended on the quarter. The new citizenship test is one of a number of moves made under the Trump administration to not only halt illegal immigration but restrict legal immigration as well. The administration has made it harder for people to obtain asylum, increased the costs of applying for citizenship and, under the cloak of the coronavirus pandemic, suspended the issuance of green cards to immigrants seeking temporary work in the country. Taken together, these moves amount to a break from what historically had been bipartisan support for naturalization for immigrants who lived and worked in the United States and embraced the opportunity to become citizens. Applicants must already fill out a 20-page application, pass background checks, submit a bevy of documents, and pass civics and English tests during an interview. The government moved this year to raise fees for naturalization from $725 to $1,170, or $1,160 if the application was filed online, but a federal judge in California blocked the increase in September. Organizations that offer citizenship classes to help immigrants study for the test are scrambling to revamp their lesson plans to respond to the new questions. Lynne Weintraub, who trains citizenship instructors and was involved in the design of the 2008 test, said the revisions were adopted without outside professional input that might have helped ensure that the test was a fair and valid measure of applicants’ knowledge of civics. “You can’t even imagine the turmoil that this has created,” Weintraub said. The new test, she said, presents additional problems for many English language learners by clustering abstract concepts into one phrase in some questions, “making them impossible for immigrants with low English proficiency and less education to follow.”

New US citizenship test is longer and more difficult

The Trump administration Wednesday issued new rules to curtail travel to the United States by members of the Chinese Communist Party and their immediate families, a move certain to further exacerbate tensions between the countries.

The new policy, which took immediate effect, limits the maximum validity of travel visas for party members and their families to one month and a single entry, according to two people familiar with the matter. A State Department spokesman said in an emailed statement it was reducing the validity of visas for party members from 10 years to one month.

Previously, party members, like other Chinese citizens, could obtain visitor visas for the United States of up to 10 years in duration. The new measures do not affect party members’ eligibility for other kinds of visas, such as immigration, one of the people added.

In principle, the policy change could affect the travel of roughly 270 million people — China has about 92 million Communist Party members — although in practice, it might be difficult to determine who, apart from high-level officials, belongs to the party. The new visa rules add to the now yearslong conflict between the countries on trade, technology and much else.

According to the people familiar with the rules, the new guidelines allow U.S. officials to make a determination about someone’s party status based on their visa application and interview, as well as officials’ local understanding of Communist Party membership. That could mean that the policy disproportionately hits China’s top government and business leaders rather than the millions of lower-level members who join the party to get a leg up in areas as varied as business and the arts.

A spokesman for the State Department said the move was a part of “ongoing policy, regulatory, and law-enforcement action across the U.S. government to protect our nation from the CCP’s malign influence.”

“For decades we allowed the CCP free and unfettered access to U.S. institutions and businesses while these same privileges were never extended freely to U.S. citizens in China,” he added in an emailed statement.

The new rules are likely to raise hackles in Beijing for targeting the heart of China’s ruling elite. Even so, the restrictions are more moderate than an outright ban on travel by party members, which Trump administration officials had discussed this summer.

Such restrictions are likely to prompt retaliation from China’s government, though travel between China and the United States has already been hugely limited by the pandemic. In 2018, almost 3 million Chinese citizens traveled to the United States.

Coming in the twilight of the Trump administration, the new rules and the likely Chinese retaliation will be yet another challenge to the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden, who is inheriting a U.S.-China relationship that is in its worst state since the normalization of diplomatic ties in 1979.

While some have expected a reset of relations from Biden, his views on China have hardened since he was vice president under President Barack Obama. Biden appears to be committed to leaving in place many of the tough measures taken by the Trump administration, including tariffs and restrictions on Chinese technology. He has said he will forcefully address China’s human rights violations, including mass detentions in the western region of Xinjiang. Chinese officials have worried that Biden will be more effective at leading a broader global pushback against China.

Under Trump, the State Department has also announced other visa restrictions on various categories of Chinese citizens. These include officials responsible for the mass internment and surveillance of Muslim ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region, journalists working in the United States and officials deemed to be responsible for the political crackdown in Hong Kong.

In May, U.S. officials said the government was canceling the visas of graduate- or higher-level students in the United States who had ties to certain Chinese military institutions. Chinese students make up the largest group of international students in the country.

The Trump administration Wednesday issued new rules to curtail travel to the United States by members of the Chinese Communist Party and their immediate families, a move certain to further exacerbate tensions between the countries.

The Trump administration Wednesday issued new rules to curtail travel to the United States by members of the Chinese Communist Party and their immediate families, a move certain to further exacerbate tensions between the countries. The new policy, which took immediate effect, limits the maximum validity of travel visas for party members and their families to one month and a single entry, according to two people familiar with the matter. A State Department spokesman said in an emailed statement it was reducing the validity of visas for party members from 10 years to one month. Previously, party members, like other Chinese citizens, could obtain visitor visas for the United States of up to 10 years in duration. The new measures do not affect party members’ eligibility for other kinds of visas, such as immigration, one of the people added. In principle, the policy change could affect the travel of roughly 270 million people — China has about 92 million Communist Party members — although in practice, it might be difficult to determine who, apart from high-level officials, belongs to the party. The new visa rules add to the now yearslong conflict between the countries on trade, technology and much else. According to the people familiar with the rules, the new guidelines allow U.S. officials to make a determination about someone’s party status based on their visa application and interview, as well as officials’ local understanding of Communist Party membership. That could mean that the policy disproportionately hits China’s top government and business leaders rather than the millions of lower-level members who join the party to get a leg up in areas as varied as business and the arts. A spokesman for the State Department said the move was a part of “ongoing policy, regulatory, and law-enforcement action across the U.S. government to protect our nation from the CCP’s malign influence.” “For decades we allowed the CCP free and unfettered access to U.S. institutions and businesses while these same privileges were never extended freely to U.S. citizens in China,” he added in an emailed statement. The new rules are likely to raise hackles in Beijing for targeting the heart of China’s ruling elite. Even so, the restrictions are more moderate than an outright ban on travel by party members, which Trump administration officials had discussed this summer. Such restrictions are likely to prompt retaliation from China’s government, though travel between China and the United States has already been hugely limited by the pandemic. In 2018, almost 3 million Chinese citizens traveled to the United States. Coming in the twilight of the Trump administration, the new rules and the likely Chinese retaliation will be yet another challenge to the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden, who is inheriting a U.S.-China relationship that is in its worst state since the normalization of diplomatic ties in 1979. While some have expected a reset of relations from Biden, his views on China have hardened since he was vice president under President Barack Obama. Biden appears to be committed to leaving in place many of the tough measures taken by the Trump administration, including tariffs and restrictions on Chinese technology. He has said he will forcefully address China’s human rights violations, including mass detentions in the western region of Xinjiang. Chinese officials have worried that Biden will be more effective at leading a broader global pushback against China. Under Trump, the State Department has also announced other visa restrictions on various categories of Chinese citizens. These include officials responsible for the mass internment and surveillance of Muslim ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region, journalists working in the United States and officials deemed to be responsible for the political crackdown in Hong Kong. In May, U.S. officials said the government was canceling the visas of graduate- or higher-level students in the United States who had ties to certain Chinese military institutions. Chinese students make up the largest group of international students in the country.

US tightens visa rules for Chinese Communist Party members

The Trump administration has proposed to scrap the computerised lottery system to grant H-1B work visas to foreign technology professionals and replace it with a wage-level-based selection process, a move that is expected to counter the downward pressure on the wages of US workers.

A notification on the new system is being published in the Federal Register on Thursday. Stakeholders have 30 days to respond to the notification, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Wednesday, less than a week before the US presidential election.

Replacing the computerised draw of lots to decide on the successful H-1B applicants, the DHS said it is expected to help counter the downward pressure on the wages of American workers that is created by an annual influx of relatively lower-paid, new cap-subject H-1B workers.

The H-1B visa, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

If finalised as proposed, US Citizenship and Immigration Services would first select registrations (or petitions, if the registration process is suspended) generally based on the highest Occupational Employment Statistics prevailing wage level that the offered wage equals or exceeds for the relevant Standard Occupational Classification code and areas of intended employment.

"Prioritisation and selection based on wage levels better balances the interests of petitioners, H-1B workers, and U.S. Workers,"&nbsp;the DHS said.

"With this proposed rule, the Trump administration is continuing to deliver on its promise to protect the American worker while strengthening the economy. The H-1B programme is often exploited and abused by U.S. Employers, and their U.S. Clients, primarily seeking to hire foreign workers and pay lower wages,"&nbsp;said Acting DHS Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli.

US President Donald Trump, keen to regulate the country's immigration policies, on June 22, signed the executive order temporarily banning issuing fresh H-1B and L-1 visas till December 31. Reforming America's immigration regime is a major election promise of the Republican leader under his America First policy.

"The current use of random selection to allocate H-1B visas makes it harder for businesses to plan their hiring, fails to leverage the H-1B programme to truly compete for the world's best and brightest, and hurts American workers by bringing in relatively lower-paid foreign labour at the expense of the American workforce," Cuccinelli said.

According to the DHS, modifying the H-1B cap selection process by replacing the random selection process with a wage-level-based selection process is a better way to allocate H-1Bs when demand exceeds supply.

This new selection process would incentivise employers to offer higher wages or petition for positions requiring higher skills and higher-skilled workers instead of using the programme to fill relatively lower-paid vacancies.

The proposed changes would maintain the effective and efficient administration of the H-1B cap selection process while providing some prospective petitioners the ability to potentially improve their chance of selection by agreeing to pay H-1B beneficiaries higher wages that equal or exceed higher prevailing wage levels, it said.

This is necessary to further the administration's goal of prioritising H-1B cap-subject registrations for petitioners seeking to employ higher-skilled and higher paid workers, which is more aligned with the general congressional intent for the H-1B programme, the DHS said.

According to the federal notification, prioritising wage levels in the registration selection process incentivises employers to offer higher wages, or to petition for positions requiring higher skills that commensurate with higher wage levels, to increase the likelihood of selection for an eventual petition.

Similarly, it disincentivises abuse of the H-1B programme to fill lower-paid, lower-skilled positions, which is a significant problem under the present selection system. With limited exceptions, H-1B petitioners are not required to demonstrate a labour shortage as a prerequisite for obtaining H-1B workers, it said.

The number of H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those filed for the advanced degree exemption, has frequently exceeded the annual H-1B numerical allocations. 
For at least the last decade, USCIS has received more H-1B petitions than the annual H-1B numerical allocation in those respective years.

Since the fiscal 2014 cap season (April 2013), USCIS has received more H-1B petitions (or registrations) in the first five days of filing (or the initial registration period) than the annual H-1B numerical allocations.

The Trump administration has proposed to scrap the computerised lottery system to grant H-1B work visas to foreign technology professionals and replace it with a wage-level-based selection process, a move that is expected to counter the downward pressure on the wages of US workers.

The Trump administration has proposed to scrap the computerised lottery system to grant H-1B work visas to foreign technology professionals and replace it with a wage-level-based selection process, a move that is expected to counter the downward pressure on the wages of US workers. A notification on the new system is being published in the Federal Register on Thursday. Stakeholders have 30 days to respond to the notification, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Wednesday, less than a week before the US presidential election. Replacing the computerised draw of lots to decide on the successful H-1B applicants, the DHS said it is expected to help counter the downward pressure on the wages of American workers that is created by an annual influx of relatively lower-paid, new cap-subject H-1B workers. The H-1B visa, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. If finalised as proposed, US Citizenship and Immigration Services would first select registrations (or petitions, if the registration process is suspended) generally based on the highest Occupational Employment Statistics prevailing wage level that the offered wage equals or exceeds for the relevant Standard Occupational Classification code and areas of intended employment. "Prioritisation and selection based on wage levels better balances the interests of petitioners, H-1B workers, and U.S. Workers," the DHS said. "With this proposed rule, the Trump administration is continuing to deliver on its promise to protect the American worker while strengthening the economy. The H-1B programme is often exploited and abused by U.S. Employers, and their U.S. Clients, primarily seeking to hire foreign workers and pay lower wages," said Acting DHS Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli. US President Donald Trump, keen to regulate the country's immigration policies, on June 22, signed the executive order temporarily banning issuing fresh H-1B and L-1 visas till December 31. Reforming America's immigration regime is a major election promise of the Republican leader under his America First policy. "The current use of random selection to allocate H-1B visas makes it harder for businesses to plan their hiring, fails to leverage the H-1B programme to truly compete for the world's best and brightest, and hurts American workers by bringing in relatively lower-paid foreign labour at the expense of the American workforce," Cuccinelli said. According to the DHS, modifying the H-1B cap selection process by replacing the random selection process with a wage-level-based selection process is a better way to allocate H-1Bs when demand exceeds supply. This new selection process would incentivise employers to offer higher wages or petition for positions requiring higher skills and higher-skilled workers instead of using the programme to fill relatively lower-paid vacancies. The proposed changes would maintain the effective and efficient administration of the H-1B cap selection process while providing some prospective petitioners the ability to potentially improve their chance of selection by agreeing to pay H-1B beneficiaries higher wages that equal or exceed higher prevailing wage levels, it said. This is necessary to further the administration's goal of prioritising H-1B cap-subject registrations for petitioners seeking to employ higher-skilled and higher paid workers, which is more aligned with the general congressional intent for the H-1B programme, the DHS said. According to the federal notification, prioritising wage levels in the registration selection process incentivises employers to offer higher wages, or to petition for positions requiring higher skills that commensurate with higher wage levels, to increase the likelihood of selection for an eventual petition. Similarly, it disincentivises abuse of the H-1B programme to fill lower-paid, lower-skilled positions, which is a significant problem under the present selection system. With limited exceptions, H-1B petitioners are not required to demonstrate a labour shortage as a prerequisite for obtaining H-1B workers, it said. The number of H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those filed for the advanced degree exemption, has frequently exceeded the annual H-1B numerical allocations. For at least the last decade, USCIS has received more H-1B petitions than the annual H-1B numerical allocation in those respective years. Since the fiscal 2014 cap season (April 2013), USCIS has received more H-1B petitions (or registrations) in the first five days of filing (or the initial registration period) than the annual H-1B numerical allocations.

Trump admin proposes to scrap computerised lottery system to select H-1B visas

The US has&nbsp;suspended visa services at its missions in Turkey after it received "credible reports of potential terrorist attacks."

The embassy in Ankara said&nbsp;in a statement on its website that consular services would be suspended at the embassy in Ankara and consulates in Istanbul, the southern city of Adana and the Aegean coastal city of Izmir.

It added it "has received credible reports of potential terrorist attacks and kidnappings against US citizens and foreign nationals in Istanbul, including against the US consulate general, as well as potentially other locations in Turkey".

It advised US citizens "to exercise heightened caution in locations where Americans or foreigners may gather, including large office buildings or shopping malls".

In 2013, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the embassy in Ankara, killing himself and a Turkish security guard. A far-left radical group claimed the attack.

In 2016, the US government ordered all civilian relatives of its Istanbul consulate staff to leave Turkey because of increasing threats from terrorist groups.

Turkey was hit by a string of attacks in 2015 and 2016 by several groups including the Islamic State group.&nbsp;

(with inputs)

The US has suspended visa services at its missions in Turkey after it received "credible reports of potential terrorist attacks." The embassy in Ankara said in a statement on its website that consular services would be suspended at the embassy in Ankara and consulates in Istanbul, the southern city of Adana and the Aegean coastal city of Izmir.

The US has suspended visa services at its missions in Turkey after it received "credible reports of potential terrorist attacks." The embassy in Ankara said in a statement on its website that consular services would be suspended at the embassy in Ankara and consulates in Istanbul, the southern city of Adana and the Aegean coastal city of Izmir. It added it "has received credible reports of potential terrorist attacks and kidnappings against US citizens and foreign nationals in Istanbul, including against the US consulate general, as well as potentially other locations in Turkey". It advised US citizens "to exercise heightened caution in locations where Americans or foreigners may gather, including large office buildings or shopping malls". In 2013, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the embassy in Ankara, killing himself and a Turkish security guard. A far-left radical group claimed the attack. In 2016, the US government ordered all civilian relatives of its Istanbul consulate staff to leave Turkey because of increasing threats from terrorist groups. Turkey was hit by a string of attacks in 2015 and 2016 by several groups including the Islamic State group. (with inputs)

US suspends visa services in Turkey over reports of possible attacks

The US State Department has proposed a new rule that will likely curb US companies to use the skill of foreign workers. The H-1B specialty occupations will allow companies to send their technology professionals for a short stay to complete jobs on-site in the US.

US firms face skilled labour shortage: H-1B visa allows to employ workers in specialty occupations

Just ahead of the US elections on November 3, the Trump administration announced new restrictions on H-1B non-immigrant visa programme aimed at protecting American workers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-cuts-off-stimulus-relief-talks-until-after-election-upending-prospects-for-aid-333055">Also Read:&nbsp;Trump cuts off stimulus relief talks until after election, upending prospects for aid</a>

The White House said that Trump is committed to making sure&nbsp;American workers are not disadvantaged by foreign labour.

"President Trump knows that H-1B visas should only be reserved for specialised talent that helps support a strong economy. For too long, this programme has been misused as an inexpensive labour programme, replacing American jobs in the process," it said.

President Trump had earlier signed an executive order to prevent federal money from being used to displace US citizens with foreign workers.

"These critical reforms will improve the quality of the H-1B programme without changing the annual statutory cap for H-1B visas. The Trump administration is closing loopholes that have allowed employers in the United States to replace American workers with low-cost foreign labour," the White House asserted.

The H-1B visa allows US companies to employ foreign workers with specialised technical expertise with several thousand empoloyed by US companies from India.

The White House said it is also "taking action to rein in "shadow" third-party employers who use the H-1B programme to displace American workers and to reduce the validity period for H-1Bs used by these "shadow" employers, which will ensure more frequent vetting for compliance with H-1B programme requirements."

"The Department of Homeland Security is codifying the existing authorities to conduct workforce inspections and clarifying that failure to fully cooperate with inspections may result in the denial or revocation of employer H-1B petitions," it added.

"To aid our nation's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, the President placed a temporary pause on multiple categories of aliens from coming into the country for work. The Trump administration issued regulations that will, once in effect, remove the incentive to apply for asylum for the purpose of obtaining authorisation to work in the United States," the White House stated.

Just ahead of the US elections on November 3, the Trump administration announced new restrictions on H-1B non-immigrant visa programme aimed at protecting American workers.

Just ahead of the US elections on November 3, the Trump administration announced new restrictions on H-1B non-immigrant visa programme aimed at protecting American workers. Also Read: Trump cuts off stimulus relief talks until after election, upending prospects for aid The White House said that Trump is committed to making sure American workers are not disadvantaged by foreign labour. "President Trump knows that H-1B visas should only be reserved for specialised talent that helps support a strong economy. For too long, this programme has been misused as an inexpensive labour programme, replacing American jobs in the process," it said. President Trump had earlier signed an executive order to prevent federal money from being used to displace US citizens with foreign workers. "These critical reforms will improve the quality of the H-1B programme without changing the annual statutory cap for H-1B visas. The Trump administration is closing loopholes that have allowed employers in the United States to replace American workers with low-cost foreign labour," the White House asserted. The H-1B visa allows US companies to employ foreign workers with specialised technical expertise with several thousand empoloyed by US companies from India. The White House said it is also "taking action to rein in "shadow" third-party employers who use the H-1B programme to displace American workers and to reduce the validity period for H-1Bs used by these "shadow" employers, which will ensure more frequent vetting for compliance with H-1B programme requirements." "The Department of Homeland Security is codifying the existing authorities to conduct workforce inspections and clarifying that failure to fully cooperate with inspections may result in the denial or revocation of employer H-1B petitions," it added. "To aid our nation's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, the President placed a temporary pause on multiple categories of aliens from coming into the country for work. The Trump administration issued regulations that will, once in effect, remove the incentive to apply for asylum for the purpose of obtaining authorisation to work in the United States," the White House stated.

Ahead of elections, US imposes new restrictions on H-1B visas

The United States on Monday imposed additional visa restrictions on Nigerians over election-related activities in the African nation, the State Department said, accusing them of being responsible for undermining the democratic process.

The restrictions were imposed on the individuals, who were not named, "for their actions surrounding the November 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa State elections and in the run up to the September and October 2020 Edo and Ondo State elections," the State Department said in a statement.

"These individuals have so far operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people and have undermined democratic principles," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in the statement.

In 2019, the United States imposed visa restrictions on Nigerians it said had undermined elections in February and March of that year.

The State Department said it warned in a statement last year that it would consider consequences, including visa restrictions, on those responsible for organizing election-related violence or undermining the Nigerian democratic process.

The United States on Monday imposed additional visa restrictions on Nigerians over election-related activities in the African nation, the State Department said, accusing them of being responsible for undermining the democratic process.

The United States on Monday imposed additional visa restrictions on Nigerians over election-related activities in the African nation, the State Department said, accusing them of being responsible for undermining the democratic process. The restrictions were imposed on the individuals, who were not named, "for their actions surrounding the November 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa State elections and in the run up to the September and October 2020 Edo and Ondo State elections," the State Department said in a statement. "These individuals have so far operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people and have undermined democratic principles," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in the statement. In 2019, the United States imposed visa restrictions on Nigerians it said had undermined elections in February and March of that year. The State Department said it warned in a statement last year that it would consider consequences, including visa restrictions, on those responsible for organizing election-related violence or undermining the Nigerian democratic process.

US slaps more election-related visa restrictions on Nigerians

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