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Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why the US is targeting Harvard's J-1 visa programme amid broader political tensions
The US State Department has launched an investigation into Harvard University's use of the J-1 visa programme under the Exchange Visitor Program. The move is part of a broader federal campaign targeting Harvard's international activities, including its ties to China and student protest records. The University has been ordered to submit records within a week. The probe follows earlier visa-related actions and has already affected funding, legal proceedings, and international scholar entry into the US. The US State Department has launched an investigation into Harvard University's participation in the Exchange Visitor Program, which allows institutions to sponsor J-1 visas for international scholars, researchers, and certain students. The investigation, made public on a Wednesday, is the latest development in a series of federal actions scrutinising the University's international activities. As reported by The Harvard Crimson, the State Department did not allege specific misconduct in its public statement but said the inquiry aims to ensure such visa programmes 'do not run contrary to our nation's interests.' The department also reasserted that all sponsors must comply fully with visa regulations and support US foreign policy and national security objectives. J-1 visa programme under federal scrutiny The J-1 visa programme is part of the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP), which promotes cultural and educational exchange. Harvard, along with other universities, uses the programme to bring in international scholars and educators. The current investigation forms part of a wider effort by the Trump administration to exert oversight over institutions hosting foreign nationals. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo According to The Harvard Crimson, Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Harvard President Alan M. Garber in a letter that the University must submit a comprehensive set of records related to its J-1 visa sponsorships within one week. A State Department spokesperson declined to specify what exact records have been requested. Connection to wider federal action This inquiry into the EVP follows earlier actions targeting Harvard's involvement in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a separate system managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that oversees international student records for F-1 and M-1 visa holders. Harvard does not host students under M-1 visas. The Trump administration has raised concerns linking Harvard's international programmes to broader foreign policy and national security issues. The Harvard Crimson reported that the administration considers statements such as calls to cut military aid to Israel potentially valid grounds for revoking visas. The administration has also flagged Harvard's connections with China as possible national security risks. Obstacles faced by international visa holders Prior to the announcement of the State Department probe, international scholars on J-1 visas and students on F-1 visas had already begun encountering difficulties. In June, at least two incoming scholars were turned away at Boston airport, though Harvard later confirmed they were expected to be granted entry, according to The Harvard Crimson. In response to the investigation, Harvard spokesperson Jason A. Newton described the move as 'retaliatory' and argued it violates the University's First Amendment rights. He said Harvard 'continues to enrol and sponsor international scholars, researchers, and students, and will protect its international community,' as quoted by The Harvard Crimson. Broader federal pressure on Harvard continues As reported by The Harvard Crimson, federal agencies have issued multiple demands to Harvard, including a subpoena from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requesting records on international students' post-graduation work under Optional Practical Training, as well as videos of student protests dating back to 2020. DHS previously warned the University it could lose its SEVP certification unless it produced detailed internal communications and protest records. After Harvard submitted a partial response, the DHS deemed the reply insufficient. In late May, the department revoked Harvard's SEVP certification, followed by an executive order by President Trump restricting entry for Harvard-bound students. A federal judge has since granted preliminary relief, blocking both actions. Investigations impact funding and institutional operations The federal crackdown has significantly affected Harvard's research funding. The University has filed a lawsuit in response to the freeze, with the case currently pending. The government's actions have already resulted in a loss of over $2 billion in federal research grants, The Harvard Crimson reported. Congress and federal agencies have opened more than a dozen investigations into Harvard, including probes into hiring and admissions practices, links to foreign governments, and antisemitism allegations. Senator Rubio has been directly involved, urging further scrutiny, including a recent call for the Treasury Department to investigate a Harvard-hosted event involving sanctioned Chinese officials. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Embassy: Students to US should keep social media public for visa duration
With the new academic season in the US starting next month, all international students applying to study in the country will need to keep their social media profiles public not only while applying for a visa but also during its validity period — in effect, during their entire study course. 'All student and exchange visitor visa applicants (F, M and J visa classes) are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of personal social media profiles to 'public' in order to facilitate vetting necessary to establish the applicant's admissibility to the United States,' said a spokesperson from the US Embassy in New Delhi in response to a query from The Indian Express. 'Security vetting runs from the time of each application, through adjudication of the visa, and afterwards during the validity period of every issued visa, to ensure the individual remains eligible to travel to the United States,' the spokesperson said. Last month, the Embassy had cited 'public safety and national security' in the visa process while mandating those applying to study in the US to make their social media profiles public. The F category visa in the US refers to the F-1 student visa, meant for international students who wish to pursue academic studies at a US institution, while the M visa (M-1) is a non-immigrant visa for individuals pursuing vocational or other nonacademic studies. The J-1 enables foreign nationals to come to the US to teach, study, conduct research, or receive on the job training for periods ranging from a few weeks to several years. In 2023-24, Indian students formed the largest cohort of international students in the US, with 3.31 lakh enrolments. In the Financial Year 2024, the US issued 4,00,737 F-1, 6,322 M-1 and 3,22,820 J-1 visas, according to State Department data. In May, the Donald Trump administration had asked US embassies around the world to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it expanded scrutiny of applicants' social media posts following widespread protests on campuses against Israel's bombing in Gaza. At the time, The Indian Express had reported that the decision had led to anxiety among Indian students preparing to begin their studies in the US and those already enrolled in American universities. Several of these students had said they were reviewing their digital footprints to secure their academic future. On June 18, the State Department announced the resumption of student visa interviews. 'Our overseas posts will resume scheduling F, M and J non-immigrant visa applications soon. Applicants should check the relevant embassy or consulate website for appointment availability,' it had said. Asserting that 'US visa is a privilege, not a right', it had said: 'We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the US, including those who pose a threat to US national security. Under new guidance, we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M and J non-immigrant classifications.' According to the Embassy, the rule is mandated for all countries and, since 2019, the US has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on immigrant and non-immigrant visa application forms. Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More
Cedar News
19-07-2025
- Business
- Cedar News
U.S. Introduces New 'Visa Integrity Fee' for All Foreign Visitors Starting 2025
A new law passed under the Trump administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act will require all foreign visitors to the United States who need nonimmigrant visas to pay a 'U.S. visa integrity fee' starting in fiscal year 2025. The new charge will be a minimum of $250 and cannot be waived, according to the legislation. The fee, which is in addition to existing visa costs, is aimed at promoting compliance with U.S. immigration rules. However, travelers may be eligible for reimbursement under certain conditions. Who Must Pay the U.S. Visa Integrity Fee? The fee applies to all nonimmigrant visa categories, including: Tourists (B-1/B-2) Business travelers International students (F-1, M-1, etc.) The visa integrity fee will be paid only if a visa is approved. If a visa application is denied, the fee will not be charged. Does the Fee Replace Other Visa Costs? No. The new fee is in addition to existing visa application fees, such as the $205 for an H-1B application. It also adds to the Form I-94 fee, which was recently raised from $6 to $24. Travelers should prepare to pay significantly more when applying for U.S. visas after the new rule takes effect. Is the Fee Refundable? Technically, yes — but only if visa holders comply with all conditions: Do not accept unauthorized employment Do not overstay the visa by more than 5 days Reimbursement will occur after the visa expires, but no system has been announced yet to manage this process. Legal experts are advising travelers to treat the fee as nonrefundable, given the uncertainty. When Will the Fee Be Implemented? No specific date has been set. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that inter-agency coordination is required before launching the new fee. It's unclear how or where the DHS will collect it, since the State Department handles the visa issuance process. Impact on International Travel Immigration experts warn that the U.S. visa integrity fee could deter tourists and students due to higher travel costs. It also comes as the U.S. prepares to host major events in 2026 — including its 250th independence anniversary and part of the FIFA World Cup. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the policy will generate $28.9 billion in revenue and help reduce visa overstays — a long-standing issue in U.S. immigration enforcement.
India Today
02-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
US plans time limit on student visas; likely to hit plans of Indians
The Donald Trump administration is mulling a contentious bill, initially proposed during the President's first term, aiming to replace the current flexible student visa system with a fixed period of stay. The move is yet another strong measure to deter immigration, and is expected to hit students from India on F-1 and J-1 change, proposed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), would affect overseas students, exchange visitors, and representatives of foreign international students holding F-1 visas and exchange visitors on J-1 visas are granted "duration of status", allowing them to remain in the US as long as they maintain full-time enrolment or participation in their designated programme. Notably, exchange visitors include students, professors, scholars, specialists, trainees, teachers, interns, au pairs, and physicians, among proposed rule has reportedly been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Following this, the rule will be published in the Federal Register. Typically, a 30-or 60-day public comment period follows before finalisation, which may take months. However, the rule could reportedly be issued as an interim final rule also, taking effect immediately without public current regulations, F-1 and J-1 visa holders are not assigned a specific departure date upon admission, allowing them to stay in the US as long as they remain engaged in the activities for which their visa was issued, such as full-time study or program details of the proposal are proposal was reportedly opposed by higher education groups, who said it would cause needless disruption to academic programs, reported over 3.3 lakh students, Indians were the largest cohort of international students in the US, and the proposal may adversely affect the US Embassy in India had also issued a warning to foreigners on May 14 about the serious consequences of staying in the United States beyond the allowed time on their embassy had posted on X, saying, "If you remain in the United States beyond your authorised period of stay, you could be deported and could face a permanent ban on travelling to the United States in the future."The warning in May followed President Donald Trump's recent crackdown on immigrant students, which began in students have been forced to leave the country after their F-1, J-1, or M-1 visa status was abruptly revoked and their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records cancelled — often due to minor past April, through a series of executive actions, Trump had directed increased scrutiny of US colleges and their accrediting agencies. These orders target what Trump perceives as unchecked liberal influence and an excessive focus on diversity and equity in educational Trump has also sought to address anti-semitism on campuses, accusing his predecessor, Joe Biden, of failing to hold universities accountable.- EndsMust Watch
Mint
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Visa applicants, beware! US Embassy in India issues new warning - 'Omitting social media information could lead to...'
The United States (US) Embassy in New Delhi Thursday directed all visa applicants to stipulate details of all their social media handles from the past five years for background checks -- failure to comply could lead to visa rejection, the embassy said. This comes close on the heels of the United States' decision to require all student visa applicants to make their social media accounts public for vetting purposes. "Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used in the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit," the embassy said in a statement on X. "Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas," it added. Citing "national security and public safety," the US had on Monday stated that all applicants for student visas must make their social media accounts public. 'Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to 'public' to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law,' the US Embassy in New Delhi had said on Monday. The F-1 visa is issued to students pursuing academic studies, while the M-1 visa is for those enrolled in vocational or other non-academic programs. The J-1 visa, on the other hand, is granted to individuals participating in teaching, studying, research, or on-the-job training programs, typically lasting from a few weeks to several years. Last month, the Trump administration directed all US consulates around the world to stop conducting new interviews and accepting applications for student and exchange visitor visas. At the same time, US officials accused the Biden administration of allowing poorly vetted migrants into the country and claimed the system was full of fraud. In response, they announced stricter checks, including reviewing the social media activity of people applying to move to the US. Now, US consular officers will carefully check applicants' online activity. They will look for anything considered concerning — such as posts showing hostility toward American citizens, values, culture, institutions, or the country's founding principles. This change comes as the US Department of State begins requiring social media checks before granting visas.
