Latest news with #F-1s
Mint
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Trump administration offers $1000 exit bonus, free air tickets to illegal immigrants, attorney says ‘latest insult to…'
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services on Monday again urged illegal immigrants to self-deport, offering them free plane tickets and a $1000 bonus among others — a move that has been called an 'insult' to those who tried to make their way legally. In a post on X, the USCIS said, 'We encourage all aliens in the US illegally to self-deport using the @DHSgov @CBP Home App.' 'Through the App, you'll receive a complimentary plane ticket home, a $1,000 exit bonus upon your return home, and any unpaid fines for failing to depart previously will be forgiven.' A US immigration attorney, Robert Webber, slammed the Donald Trump administration over the $1000 bonus that it has announced for self-deportation. 'I was curious whether any laid off H-1B or L-1 workers have sought the $1,000 exit 'bonus' being offered by the Trump Administration. Or maybe F-1s whose OPT or STEM OPT ran out? But digging into the details, linked in the first comment below, it looks like non-immigrants may not be eligible. Classic,' he said in a post on LinkedIn. Webber also reflected on a case he fought about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration policy that did not allow legal immigrants perks like a work permit. 'I remember when DACA was announced, a widow I represented in H-1B status wanted EADs for her teenage children but because they were here legally as H-4s, they were not eligible for DACA,' he said. Slamming the Trump administration, he said the $1000 exit bonus was the 'latest insult' to legal immigrants. 'The exit bonus: I suppose is is just the latest insult to people who tried to make their way through the legal process. You apparently get nothing. But if you came through irregular means - we will throw $1,000 at you,' he quipped. The move was first announced in May by the Department of Homeland Security, headed by Kristi Noem. The stipend and potential airfare for migrants who voluntarily depart would cost less than an actual deportation, the agency said. The average cost of arresting, detaining and deporting someone without legal status is currently about $17,000, according to the DHS.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
US Visa integrity fee explained: Who pays extra, how to get a refund, and what it means for you
Dreaming of Times Square selfies or an L.A. beach vacation? Hold up—there's a new fee in town. Starting sometime in the near future, as per reports, the Trump administration is rolling out a brand-new $250 'visa integrity fee. ' And yep, that's on top of what you already pay. Wait—how much are we talking? If you're from India and applying for a standard tourist visa (B‑1/B‑2), your costs just jumped from around ₹15,800 (that's $185) to nearly ₹40,000 (about $472). And it's not just tourists. Students, temporary workers, exchange visitors—you're all included in this new fee club. H‑1Bs, F-1s, Js... nobody's dodging this. Can you get refund? Technically, yes—but there are terms and conditions. To get a refund: You can't overstay your visa. No sneaky side jobs. You'll need to leave the U.S. within 5 days of your visa expiring. You have to apply for the refund yourself. When's this happening? The fee was passed as part of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' on July 4. But there's no fixed start date yet. Agencies like USCIS and the State Department are still figuring out who collects the money, how, and when. All we know is, it's coming—they've promised to 'coordinate and release details' soon. So who's actually affected? Pretty much everyone who needs a nonimmigrant visa to get into the U.S. That includes: Tourists Business travelers Students Temporary workers Medical visitors And more Basically, if you're not from a visa-waiver country, the fee applies to you. Exempt folks? Citizens of countries like the UK, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany, and most of Europe are off the hook. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo Oh, and most Canadians too. Why add this fee anyway? Lawmakers say it's like a security deposit—a way to make sure visitors play by the rules and leave on time. The fee is expected to rake in between $28 to $40 billion over the next decade. But travel pros? Not thrilled. Some say it could scare away the very people who bring in tourism money—especially students and group travelers. Will this hurt US tourism? Short answer: probably. States like California, Florida, and New York—huge tourist magnets—might feel the heat. Add in big upcoming events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics, and that's a lot of money potentially walking away. So what should you do? Budget wisely: That extra ₹20,000 could mess with your trip plans or study abroad dreams. Stay updated: The rollout could change fast. Keep an eye on announcements from the U.S. consulate or embassy. In short: the US just got a bit pricier for travelers. Whether you're heading there for a holiday, college, or work, get ready to cough up more—and maybe start looking for cheaper destinations, just in case. The information provided in this article is based on currently available reports and official statements as of July 2025. Visa policies, fees, and procedures are subject to change and may vary by individual case. Travelers are strongly advised to check with the official U.S. Department of State, U.S. embassy or consulate websites for the most up-to-date and accurate information before making travel plans or visa applications. This content is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pierce County mayor owes state $15K for breaking campaign finance laws, PDC says
The mayor of Buckley is in hot water with the state. The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission says Beau Burkett owes the state nearly $15,000 for breaking campaign finance laws. Burkett — who was elected in 2021 and whose term expires this year on Dec. 31 — has violations dating back to 2015, when he served on the Buckley City Council. 'To my knowledge, he hasn't paid any of his fines,' Natalie Johnson, spokesperson for the PDC, told The News Tribune. In a brief enforcement hearing on Thursday afternoon, the PDC added $1,000 to the mayor's mountain of debt. It ruled that Burkett failed to disclose the $13,850 in debt on a 2023 financial statement, which he filed on Feb. 27, 2024. That brings the total he owes to $14,850. Burkett was not at the hearing, which The News Tribune attended, nor did he have an attorney show up in his place. The News Tribune sought an interview with Burkett for this story, but he did not respond by deadline. Every candidate running for public office in Washington state is required to file an F-1 Personal Financial Affairs Statement, which documents the candidate's salary range, the value of real estate they own, membership on boards of committees and more. Candidates must complete this form within two weeks of announcing their intention to run for office. 'It discloses a variety of things personal to you, and it's intended to show conflicts of interest,' Johnson told The News Tribune. 'So, for example, if it's a school board member candidate, you'd want to know if they owned a portion of a construction company that the school board then contracted with to build a school.' According to PDC documents, Burkett did not turn in F-1 forms for the years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2021, while running in the mayoral race, he didn't turn in his 2020 F-1 or his C-1 candidate registration form, PDC documents show. In 2022, he didn't file his 2021 F-1, documents say. Below is a breakdown of when the PDC issued fines to Burkett over the years, according to PDC documents. The PDC says he has not paid any of these fees: Aug. 21, 2015: $100 Feb. 7, 2017: $250 Oct. 15, 2017: $1,000 Nov. 20, 2018: $500 March 11, 2021: $1,000 Nov. 16, 2021: $1,000 July 9, 2022: $10,000 In 2023, the PDC took the two most recent cases — totaling $11,000 — to Pierce County Superior Court. A judge ruled on Aug. 18, 2023 that Burkett had to pay the $11,000 with 12% interest. Johnson told The News Tribune that all of Burkett's fines have been taken to collections. When The News Tribune asked what happens after those fines get sent to collections, she said it's the same process as anyone else who doesn't pay debt they owe. 'The collections agency, at some point, can take them to court and can get a lien on the property, wages garnished – that sort of penalty,' Johnson said. 'That's something that the collections agency takes care of for us.' According to the PDC's website, Burkett has turned in F-1s for the years 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. However, he didn't turn in his 2019 or 2021 F-1s until years later in 2024. At Thursday afternoon's hearing, the PDC said Burkett filed a 2023 F-1 on Feb. 27, 2024, but the form did not disclose the $13,850 in debt to the PDC. Johnson told The News Tribune candidates and officials are required to disclose any debt above $2,400 on an F-1 form, unless it's credit card debt. J Leach, the presiding officer at Thursday's hearing, ruled that Burkett now owes the PDC an extra $1,000, bringing the total up to $14,850. If Burkett pays these fees or sets up a payment plan, the PDC will waive $900 of the $1,000 fine, bringing his total to $13,950. The PDC has until May 31 to send an official order to Burkett, and Burkett has 30 days to take action after the order is sent. Connor Edwards, the man who filed the complaint against Burkett, told The News Tribune Thursday that he thought the penalty should have been harsher than the $1,000 fine, with $900 suspended if Burkett starts paying. 'Mayor Burkett is one of the approximately 5-10% of people that don't correct their forms when contacted by PDC staff,' Edwards wrote in an email to The News Tribune. 'Despite this, and despite the many thousands of dollars that Mayor Burkett already owes the agency for years of ignoring the law, the PDC still offered to suspend virtually all of today's penalty if he corrects his F1 report.' Edwards is a recent law school graduate who has filed more than 2,000 complaints with the PDC against dozens of officials across the state. It started when he became a campaign treasurer for many politicians, a job that started as a way to make some extra money during law school. He wants to challenge the way the PDC handles these cases. 'The PDC is a paper tiger when it comes down to it,' Edwards said. '... all they do is dismiss the case with an administrative dismissal and say, 'Don't do it again.'' He filed another complaint against Burkett on May 1. This complaint alleges that Burkett filed an F-1 form covering 2024, but did not disclose the $13,850 in debt. He said Burkett's long history of ignoring campaign finance laws is important because these laws allow the public to be informed about their elected officials. '[It's a] right to see that information so that they can make an informed choice when it comes time to vote,' Edwards said. 'I've been to other countries around the world where corruption is a very big problem — and that's in large part because many of the elected officials over there, they don't have to file these types of disclosures.'
