Latest news with #Kentakumar'Ken'Chaudhari
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Immigration wrap: US, Canada, UK, China, Vietnam announce visa changes
The second week of August brought a packed line-up of global immigration and study abroad updates. In Washington, a key White House office cleared proposals to revamp the H-1B visa — a shift that could make it much harder for fresh graduates to land jobs in the US. In Beijing, officials announced a new visa to draw in STEM talent. Meanwhile, in London, hundreds of migrants, including Indians, were arrested, and India was added to the UK's 'deport now, appeal later' criminal list. Back home, Gujarat's Anti-Terrorist Squad busted a Luxembourg visa scam, and in Nebraska, US prosecutors charged five Indian-Americans over sex trafficking, visa fraud, and money laundering. India also moved to tighten the rules for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders with criminal records. Here's what changed in the second week of August: 1. 5 Indian-Americans charged in US immigration crimes Five Indian-Americans in Nebraska are accused of running hotels at the centre of sex trafficking, visa fraud, and money laundering schemes worth over $565,000 (around ₹5 crore). Kentakumar 'Ken' Chaudhari, 36, Rashmi Ajit 'Falguni' Samani, 42, Amit Prahladbhai 'Amit' Chaudhari, 32, Amit Babubhai 'Matt' Chaudhari, 33, and Maheshkumar 'Mahesh' Chaudhari, 38, allegedly owned and managed multiple hotels linked to these offences. 'The operations generated large illegal proceeds,' said US State Attorney Lesley Woods, adding that investigators seized over half a million dollars in suspected laundering funds. 2. China to launch new STEM visa China has approved plans for the K Visa, aimed at young foreign science and technology professionals. While details are still to come, state broadcaster CCTV says the Talented Young Scientist Programme caps applicants at 45 years old, while the Outstanding Young Scientists (Overseas) Fund Project has a limit of 40. 3. Vietnam rolls out 5-year visa waiver for elite professionals Vietnam's new Special Visa Exemption Card (SVEC) will allow multiple entries for up to five years, starting August 15. Both digital and physical versions will be available, but the scheme is only for professionals whose work can boost Vietnam's socio-economic development. Indians can apply, though it's not open to all passport holders. 4. One in six Indian H-1B workers face early deportation risk A Blind app survey found that one in six Indian H-1B visa holders, or someone they know, has received a Notice to Appear (NTA) well before the usual 60-day grace period ends after a job loss — sometimes in just two weeks. 5. US Visa Bulletin for September 2025 Family-sponsored category stays open for Indians Indian permanent residents can keep filing green card applications for spouses and minor children under the F2A category. Filing date: 1 June 2025; final action date: 1 September 2022. Employment categories risk hitting the limit < The Visa Office warns most employment-based quotas may run out in August or September. 6. Canada changes Express Entry medical exam rules From August 21, 2025, applicants must complete an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) before applying for permanent residence. This applies to all family members, even if they're not moving to Canada. What's changing: • Get an IME from an IRCC-approved panel physician before submitting your PR application. • Upload proof of the IME with your application. • Family members must also complete the IME. Possible exemptions: • IME done in the last five years for a work or study permit may be reused if still valid. • Applicants must give their IME number or medical identifier. Read more 7. H-1B visa rule overhaul clears White House review The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has approved proposals to replace the random H-1B lottery with a system ranking applications by the wages offered — reviving an idea from Donald Trump's first term. Read more 8. UK adds India to 'deport now, appeal later' list India is one of 15 new additions to the UK policy allowing certain foreign nationals to be deported before their appeal is heard. 'For far too long, foreign criminals have been exploiting our immigration system,' said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. 'Those who commit crimes in our country cannot be allowed to manipulate the system.'
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
Visa fraud, sex trafficking: 5 Indian-Americans abuse US immigration system
The Trump administration, since its first day in office, has tightened its crackdown on immigration-related fraud. In the midst of immigration raids across major US cities, federal authorities have charged five Indian-Americans in Nebraska over sex trafficking, visa fraud and money laundering involving more than $565,000 (around ₹5 crore), according to a press release by the US Attorney's Office, District of Nebraska. Kentakumar 'Ken' Chaudhari, 36, Rashmi Ajit 'Falguni' Samani, 42, Amit Prahladbhai 'Amit' Chaudhari, 32, Amit Babubhai 'Matt' Chaudhari, 33, and Maheshkumar 'Mahesh' Chaudhari, 38, owned, operated and managed a number of hotels in the state. Prosecutors allege these hotels were at the centre of multiple criminal schemes. US state attorney Lesley Woods said in the release, the operations generated large illegal proceeds, with investigators seizing more than $565,000 in cash suspected to be linked to money laundering. Child labour and unsafe living conditions Court documents say ten minors were rescued from a labour trafficking network that forced children under the age of 12 to work long hours in unclean, unsafe and unhealthy hotels for little or no pay. The Department of Justice described one scene where an informant entered a hotel room and found immigrant victims sleeping on the floor, with cockroaches crawling over them as they slept. 'There is no evil greater than the evil that seeks to trap, oppress, and exploit human beings for profit or pleasure,' said Woods. 'Where that evil exists, Nebraska law enforcement working together at the federal, state, and local levels, as occurred in this case, will seek it, find it, root it out, and ensure every rescued victim has an opportunity to obtain justice and freedom from their captors.' Visa scam involving staged robbery One of the accused is also alleged to have abused the US U visa system, which is designed for victims of certain crimes who have suffered abuse and assist law enforcement in investigations. Investigators say a hotel owner arranged a staged robbery of a Brow and Lash salon in 2022 to make another defendant appear as a crime victim, in an attempt to secure her a U visa. Hotels as drug trafficking hubs The complaint also alleges the hotels were used for drug trafficking. According to the DOJ, traffickers received protection from the hotel owners in the same way human traffickers did. Overdoses were reportedly so frequent that at least one hotel kept Narcan — an opioid overdose treatment — at the front desk. A source described a stairwell littered with used drug needles, while drug use in the parking lots was said to be common, a claim also reflected in online guest reviews. Smuggling people from India Prosecutors allege one defendant discussed the cost of bringing someone from India to the US. Several hotel employees had crossed the Arizona border in previous years, telling border officials they would be living at hotels owned by the defendants. The complaint further claims that migrants were moved between Nebraska and Washington to obtain driver's licences fraudulently, with each identification document costing around $1,000.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Drug trafficking, forcing migrant minors to work at hotels, visa fraud: Five Indian-Americans charged in Nebraska
Five Indian-origin hotel owners have been charged with trafficking, visa fraud in Nebraska. Five Indian-Americans have been charged by the federal authorities for sex trafficking at several hotel locations owned, operated and managed by them in Nebraska. Kentakumar 'Ken' Chaudhari (36), Rashmi Ajit 'Falguni' Samani (42), Amit Prahladbhai 'Amit' Chaudhari (32), Amit Babubhai 'Matt' Chaudhari (33), and Maheshkumar 'Mahesh' Chaudhari (38) are the five Indian-Americans involved in the case. Court documents said 10 minors were rescued during the operation from an alleged labor trafficking conspiracy that involved putting children under the age of 12 years old to work at hotels for long hours with little to no pay. The lodgings where they had to work were unclean, unsafe and unhealthy. "On one occasion, a source working with the federal government entered a hotel room where immigrant victims were sleeping on the floor of the room with cockroaches crawling on the victims as they slept," the DOJ note said. — USAO_NE (@USAO_NE) US attorney Lesley Woods said: 'There is no evil greater than the evil that seeks to trap, oppress, and exploit human beings for profit or pleasure. Where that evil exists, Nebraska law enforcement working together at the federal, state, and local levels, as occurred in this case, will seek it, find it, root it out, and ensure every rescued victim has an opportunity to obtain justice and freedom from their captors.' U visa fraud The racket, or at least one of the five Indian-Americans, was involved in a visa scam. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo This visa is meant for victims of certain crimes who suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to the law enforcement for the investigation of the crime. One hotel owner among the 5 charged hired a worker at a hotel to stage a fictitious robbery of one of the Brow and Lash salons in 2022. The goal was to secure a U visa for one of the other defendants by making her a 'victim' of the robbery. Dens of drug trafficking The complaint said these hotels use their premises for drug trafficking. "Drug traffickers allegedly received protection from law enforcement in the same manner in which human traffickers were also shielded by the hotel owners and managers. Overdoses were a common problem, and at least one hotel had to keep Narcan at the front desk as a result. One source cited described a stairwell of one of the hotels as being littered with drug needles. Drug use was open and notorious in the parking lots according to eyewitnesses and to some online guest reviews," the DOJ document said. Price to bring someone from India to America One of the accused engaged in conversations about what it would cost to bring someone from India to America. A number of hotel employees crossed the Arizona border several years ago and reported to Customs and Border Patrol they would be residing at one or more of the defendant's hotels, thereby indicating those arrangements were made prior to entering the country illegally. Migrants were also being transported illegally from Nebraska to Washington to get driver's licenses in Washington.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Five Indian-Americans charged in Nebraska human trafficking case
Federal authorities have charged five Indian Americans in connection with an alleged human trafficking and immigration fraud network operating across multiple hotels in Nebraska. The arrests followed early morning raids at properties in the Omaha metro area and central Nebraska. The accused — Kentakumar 'Ken' Chaudhari (36), Rashmi Ajit 'Falguni' Samani (42), Amit Prahladbhai 'Amit' Chaudhari (32), Amit Babubhai 'Matt' Chaudhari (33), and Maheshkumar 'Mahesh' Chaudhari (38) — allegedly owned and managed hotels where minors and adults were exploited for sex and forced labour. U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods called the crimes 'evil,' vowing that Nebraska law enforcement 'will seek it, find it, root it out, and ensure every rescued victim has an opportunity to obtain justice and freedom from their captors.' According to court documents, 10 minors — some under 12 — and 17 adults were rescued. Victims allegedly endured unsafe conditions, long hours, little to no pay, and in some cases, were forced into sexual activity. The FBI said drugs and prostitution were encouraged at the hotels to generate profits. Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI's Omaha Field Office described the operation as 'modern-day slavery,' urging victims or informants to contact authorities. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito said the crimes 'prey on the vulnerable' and show 'no regard for the laws or values of our nation.' Charges also include visa fraud involving staged robberies, illegal border crossings, and transporting undocumented immigrants for profit. Authorities seized over $565,000 in cash and placed liens on hotel properties to prevent their sale. The FBI, DHS, Omaha Police, Nebraska State Patrol, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Marshals, and the Nebraska Attorney General's Office collaborated in the investigation. Officials stress that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This article is published in an arrangement with 5WH.
