Latest news with #HamptonRoads
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pause on international student visas could affect Hampton Roads tourism industry
VIRGINIA BEACH — The U.S. State Department this week ordered embassies to pause new student visa appointments to expand its social media screening efforts. The move applies to several visa categories, including the J-class, according to a State Department cable. Among those groups affected will be international student workers who are applying for J-1 visas to work in Hampton Roads and Outer Banks later this year and in the future. 'The Department is conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor (F, M, J) visa applicants, and based on that review, plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applicants,' said Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the cable, which was sent Tuesday and obtained by The Virginian-Pilot. A visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate is generally the last step before an applicant receives a final decision on their visa application, according to the State Department. Scheduled appointments can take place; additional ones are paused while the department conducts its review, Rubio said. The enhanced vetting is another step by the Trump administration in its ongoing dispute over international enrollment at Harvard University, which receives federal funding. The Department of Homeland Security is seeking data about Harvard students involved in alleged criminal activity, threatening behavior, protests or other violent or disruptive acts on campus, in what the department describes as a matter of national security. Radlyn Mendoza, a Virginia Beach immigration and citizenship attorney, said students who were waiting for that final step in the approval process are out of luck, for now. 'They're going to be waiting in limbo,' she said. The temporary suspension could also put the tourism industry in a tough spot. Dozens of employers in Virginia Beach, Williamsburg and the Outer Banks rely on J-1 visa holders to fill integral positions during peak summer months and into the fall. Many arrived in May and are working at hotels, restaurants and amusement parks. Under the non-immigrant J-1 visa, students can work for up to four months in the U.S. and then travel for a month before returning to their home country. A second wave of students — most of which have already been approved for their visas, according to their employers — are scheduled to arrive later this summer. If the application pause continues and expanded vetting leads to delays, businesses could lose some foreign applicants seeking fall, winter or spring work. 'It could definitely put a little more pressure, I'm sure, on everyone,' said Russell Lyons, corporate director of operations for Coastal Hospitality Associates, LLC., which owns and operates hotels at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and Town Center as well as in Kitty Hawk and Nags Head on the Outer Banks. Lyons said he received an emailed update this week from a representative of Intrax, the agency that Coastal Hospitality uses to connect with student workers. Intrax is going through its roster to determine which students have not yet scheduled an interview, the email said, according to Lyons. It remains to be seen if the State Department's new process will delay visa approvals going forward and how local businesses that rely heavily on J-1 workers will handle a potential setback, Mendoza said. Guidance on the expanded vetting would be issued 'in the coming days,' Rubio's cable said. 'It will be interesting to see how that will impact our local economy, and also whether domestic applicants, domestic workers will step up,' Mendoza said. Lyons is not concerned about this summer's workforce, but he's beginning to think about a back-up plan if delays in approving international student workers bleeds into next year. 'We'll have to explore some other options,' Lyons said. Coastal Hospitality may have to turn to a staffing company because recruiting for some jobs can be difficult. 'It's tough in this market to fill housekeeping positions,' Lyons said. Gold Key|PHR, which operates The Cavalier Hotel and several other hotels in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, is expecting about 45 more international student workers this summer on top of the 42 who are already here, said Bucky Houser, director of recruiting and training. Houser was able to confirm this week with WISE Foundation, the company Gold Key uses for the J-1 program, that those additional students have been approved and will be coming to Virginia Beach, he said. Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125,
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Region marks ultimate sacrifice of veterans on Memorial Day
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — From Williamsburg to Portsmouth, and places throughout Hampton Roads, people paid their respects on Memorial Day to U.S. military members who have died in service to their country. Starting with the oldest in the nation, 'Freedom is not free, so they paid the cost for us to, you know, be here,' said attendee Micheal Stith. 'So we want to thank them for that.' In Virginia Beach, symbols of gratitude were offered in memory of those lost while serving this country during a ceremony happened at Tidewater Veteran's Memorial. Wreaths were placed, and veterans in attendance were able to reflect. 'Memorial Day kind of symbolizes what people [had] to give [so that] you and me and him and everybody else can walk around free,' said Navy veteran Don McAlister. In Norfolk, 'We pause all over America to pay tribute, to honor our fallen heroes, those men and women who lost their lives in service, defending our country, defending our freedom,' said Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander. On the Peninsula, Newport News had an event at Victory Landing Park, sponsored by American Legion Braxton-Perkins Post 25. In Williamsburg, residents at a retirement community also hosted a Memorial Day program in which they remembered the men and women who gave their lives to protect the nation. 'Memorial Day is a very important day for me, from my family connection to the military,' said Air Force veteran Ralph Barrows, 'but also because of all of the friends that I knew and lost in different wars during the during my lifespan.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
More Hampton Roads drivers use toll discounts, but millions of dollars are still available
Enrollment is growing in a program that offers millions of dollars of toll relief to Hampton Roads drivers who traverse the Downtown and Midtown tunnels. But the amount of money being used is just a fraction of what state lawmakers secured in the commonwealth's fiscal budget. Virginia's 2024-26 biennium budget includes $101 million in toll relief at the Downtown and Midtown tunnels connecting Norfolk and Portsmouth, with a $77 million earmark in the first fiscal year and $24 million in the second. The program's current enrollment is 19,086 people, according to data provided by the Virginia Department of Transportation. That represents a nearly 9% increase in enrollment compared with this time last year, with the vast majority of relief going to residents of South Hampton Roads. For drivers earning less than $50,000 per year, expanded toll relief provides 100% off 14 trips through the tunnels for two-axle passenger vehicles. But it applies only to the most fiscally stressed cities in the region, including Hampton, Norfolk, Newport News, Portsmouth and Franklin. That's in addition to the existing toll relief program offered to all Hampton Roads residents, where drivers earning up to $65,000 annually with an E-ZPass transponder can get 50% off 14 weekly trips through the tunnels. Since 2017, $10.6 million of toll relief has been distributed to drivers in Hampton Roads, according to VDOT. Since July 1, 2024 — the start of the current fiscal year — $4.12 million has been given to eligible drivers as of April. That's up from the $3 million granted between July 2023 and June 2024. How some Hampton Roads residents could pay no toll to drive through tunnels Toll-free HOV lane in Downtown and Midtown tunnels not recommended, study says 10 years of tunnel tolls: How they have helped — and hurt — Hampton Roads More than a third (36%) of the relief to date went to Portsmouth residents, which amounts to roughly 6,870 people. Almost a quarter (23%) went to Norfolk residents. Data has shown tolls are particularly burdensome to Portsmouth and Norfolk residents, and enrollment for drivers in both cities increased this year. Relief has been expanded over the years to include cities like Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, and more drivers there are taking advantage this year, according to VDOT data. The city of Portsmouth has beefed up its promotion of toll relief since January, a city spokesperson said, through social media posts and the city's official website. During a City Council work session last year, Virginia House Speaker Don Scott and Sen. Louise Lucas urged the city to do more to get the word out so they can continue securing relief in the state budget. 'They don't have to do anything, but just get the transponder registered,' Scott previously told The Virginian-Pilot. 'So if they do that, then we'll be able to see a higher usage and higher percentage, and then justify even more resources to help.' City spokesperson Peter Glagola said Elizabeth River Crossing, which operates the tolls, recently presented to the Mayor's Military Affairs Committee, with a key message that residents should apply individually and not as families to stay within the maximum annual income limit for relief. ____ There's no deadline to register for toll relief, but it must be done in person at E-ZPass Customer Service Centers in Norfolk or Portsmouth or at the DriveERT Customer Care Center in Portsmouth. When applying in person, bring proof of residence and income. Residence can be proved from a driver's license, checking or savings account statement, utility bill, mortgage, rental lease, military documentation confirming city of residence or property tax bill. Proof of income can include Social Security statements, tax forms, one month of pay stubs, notarized employer's statement or self-declaration of no income. Once approved for the program, E-ZPass transponders will link to the unique toll relief confirmation code given. Residents with a balance on their E-ZPass account can still enroll in the toll relief, but discounts cannot be applied until negative balances are resolved. There's still time to take advantage as the state's funding is available through 2036, a VDOT spokesperson said. ERC also contributes annually to the toll relief program, including $3.6 million this year. Unused toll credits, both from ERC and the state, can roll over to subsequent years, according to VDOT. Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, ____ Norfolk E-ZPass Customer Service Center 1701 Church St. Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Portsmouth E-ZPass Customer Service Center 4010 Victory Blvd. Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. DriveERT Customer Care Center 309 County St., Portsmouth Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial Day events around Hampton Roads
Several cities throughout Hampton Roads will honor the sacrifice of the nation's service members with Memorial Day events on Monday. Here's how government services will be impacted by the holiday. ___ Mayor's Commission on Veterans Affairs will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday in front of City Hall. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will move into City Council chambers. For more information, visit ___ Service members to be honored The city will honor the sacrifice of the nation's service members during its annual Memorial Day wreath laying ceremony 2 p.m. Monday at Wisconsin Square, near the USS Wisconsin. The event is co-sponsored by the Veterans Affairs Advisory Commission. For more information, visit Memorial Day parade and more Larchmont-Edgewater Civic League will host its third annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony from 10-11:30 a.m. Monday at Larchmont United Methodist Church, 1101 Jamestown Crescent. Parade line-up (St. Patrick's School's parking lot) at 9:15 a.m.; parade starts at 10 a.m.; parade ends at 10:45 a.m.; followed by a wreath laying ceremony at 11:15 a.m. (on the greenspace). The festival will also feature a 40-piece orchestra, community booths, Norfolk Fire Department Demo and more. For more information, visit Honoring fallen service members MacArthur Memorial will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. Visitors can place a poppy on a memorial wreath in the MacArthur Memorial rotunda to honor a fallen service member and receive a flower and flag arrangement to place at a veteran's grave or special site, while supplies last. Admission is free. For more information, visit ___ The city will have its annual Memorial Day parade honoring the sacrifices of the brave men and women in the United States Armed Forces 10 a.m. Monday. The parade will feature floats, marching bands, military units and travels on High Street from Peninsula Avenue (at I.C. Norcom High School) to Crawford Street. For more information, visit ___ Virginia Department of Veterans Services will host a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, 5310 Milners Road. Attendees should arrive by 9:30 a.m. for parking and seating. Prior to the cemetery ceremony, volunteers will place miniature American flags on gravesites. American Legion Post 88 commander Dave Buchy will serve as emcee with music provided by singer Lily Morgan, bagpiper Andrew Lawrence and bugler Mark Hendrickson. For more information, visit ___ The city will hold a ceremony from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at the Tidewater Veterans Memorial, across from the Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th St. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place inside the Convention Center. The event is free and will also be livestreamed on the city's website at Military commands and organizations are invited to bring wreaths on behalf of their organizations. For more information, visit ___ The county will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony at noon Monday on the lawn of York Hall, 301 Main St., Yorktown. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors. Prior to the ceremony, the Fifes and Drums of Yorktown will march to York Hall around 11:45 a.m. Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 824, will serve as the color guard. Wreath laying will be provided by Disabled American Veterans Chapter 13; Comte de Grasse Chapter — Daughters of the American Revolution; and Moore House Society — Children of the American Revolution. For more information, call 757-890-3800.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial Day events around Hampton Roads
Several cities throughout Hampton Roads will honor the sacrifice of the nation's service members with Memorial Day events on Monday. Here's how government services will be impacted by the holiday. ___ Mayor's Commission on Veterans Affairs will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday in front of City Hall. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will move into City Council chambers. For more information, visit ___ Service members to be honored The city will honor the sacrifice of the nation's service members during its annual Memorial Day wreath laying ceremony 2 p.m. Monday at Wisconsin Square, near the USS Wisconsin. The event is co-sponsored by the Veterans Affairs Advisory Commission. For more information, visit Memorial Day parade and more Larchmont-Edgewater Civic League will host its third annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony from 10-11:30 a.m. Monday at Larchmont United Methodist Church, 1101 Jamestown Crescent. Parade line-up (St. Patrick's School's parking lot) at 9:15 a.m.; parade starts at 10 a.m.; parade ends at 10:45 a.m.; followed by a wreath laying ceremony at 11:15 a.m. (on the greenspace). The festival will also feature a 40-piece orchestra, community booths, Norfolk Fire Department Demo and more. For more information, visit Honoring fallen service members MacArthur Memorial will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. Visitors can place a poppy on a memorial wreath in the MacArthur Memorial rotunda to honor a fallen service member and receive a flower and flag arrangement to place at a veteran's grave or special site, while supplies last. Admission is free. For more information, visit ___ The city will have its annual Memorial Day parade honoring the sacrifices of the brave men and women in the United States Armed Forces 10 a.m. Monday. The parade will feature floats, marching bands, military units and travels on High Street from Peninsula Avenue (at I.C. Norcom High School) to Crawford Street. For more information, visit ___ Virginia Department of Veterans Services will host a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, 5310 Milners Road. Attendees should arrive by 9:30 a.m. for parking and seating. Prior to the cemetery ceremony, volunteers will place miniature American flags on gravesites. American Legion Post 88 commander Dave Buchy will serve as emcee with music provided by singer Lily Morgan, bagpiper Andrew Lawrence and bugler Mark Hendrickson. For more information, visit ___ The city will hold a ceremony from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at the Tidewater Veterans Memorial, across from the Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th St. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place inside the Convention Center. The event is free and will also be livestreamed on the city's website at Military commands and organizations are invited to bring wreaths on behalf of their organizations. For more information, visit ___ The county will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony at noon Monday on the lawn of York Hall, 301 Main St., Yorktown. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors. Prior to the ceremony, the Fifes and Drums of Yorktown will march to York Hall around 11:45 a.m. Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 824, will serve as the color guard. Wreath laying will be provided by Disabled American Veterans Chapter 13; Comte de Grasse Chapter — Daughters of the American Revolution; and Moore House Society — Children of the American Revolution. For more information, call 757-890-3800.
