Latest news with #State_SCA
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Visa Granted, But You're Still Being Watched: US Warns Indians Of Immediate Deportation For Any Violation
New Delhi: The U.S. Embassy in India has warned visa holders and applicants that receiving a visa is no shield from deportation. In a message shared on social media, the embassy said that American authorities continue to monitor individuals even after a visa has been granted and that anyone found violating U.S. laws or immigration rules could face immediate visa revocation and deportation. 'U.S. visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all U.S. laws and immigration rules – and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don't,' the embassy posted on X (formerly Twitter). U.S. visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all U.S. laws and immigration rules – and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they don't. — U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) July 12, 2025 The embassy made it clear that visa holders are under routine surveillance. Students on F-1 visas. Techies on H-1Bs. Visitors. Tourists. Everyone. The warning comes amid a wave of tightening visa controls and intensified monitoring mechanisms under new screening protocols. And officials did not need to cite examples. Past cases have shown that people caught working off-campus without permission, misrepresenting social media activity or violating the terms of academic enrollment have faced detention, revoked visas and removal orders. Social Media Too Is Being Watched The embassy is deep-diving into the internet. In an earlier post, it warned, 'Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.' Applicants now must list every social media handle used in the last five years on the DS-160 form — from LinkedIn and Facebook to X and Instagram. And that is not only for transparency, but for continuous tracking. In fact, as per updated guidance issued just weeks ago, applicants for student and cultural exchange visas (F, M, J) are now required to make their social media profiles public. The aim? Easier vetting. 'Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to public,' the embassy declared. Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant 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… — State_SCA (@State_SCA) July 15, 2025 Why This Matters for Indian Visa Holders The message could not be clearer – every move counts. The days of lax oversight are gone. From attending your college classes to switching employers and from tweeting political views to maintaining a clean immigration record, every action could make or break your stay. A technical violation, an unreported course change or a simple omission in paperwork can now lead to irreversible consequences. This crackdown comes against a wider backdrop. U.S. immigration agencies are ramping up vetting not only at the application stage, but long after entry. With growing concerns around visa fraud, overstays and unreported employment, especially in countries like India, which sends one of the highest numbers of visa applicants, Washington is turning up the heat. What You Need to Know Now Visa approval is not the finish line. It is the beginning of long-term monitoring. Any violation of terms, including unauthorised work, dropping out of school or overstaying, can result in visa revocation and deportation. Social media presence is under strict review. Every handle over the past five years must be disclosed. Privacy settings must be public for some visa categories. All status changes must be legally reported and updated through the appropriate immigration channels.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
'Will say nothing more': US official to Pak journalist over Pahalgam attack
On Friday (IST), US State Department's Spokesperson Tammy Bruce slammed a Pakistani journalist for questioning her over escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Responding to a question from a Pakistani journalist from ARY News, Bruce said, 'I am not going to be remarking on it. I appreciate this, and perhaps we will come back to you with another subject. I will say nothing more on that situation. The President and the Secretary have said things, as have the Deputy Secretary; they have made their positions clear. I will not continue with something of that manner.' Expressing condolences for those who lost their lives, Bruce said that the US prays for those who lost their lives in one of the deadly attacks since the 2019 Pulwama attacks. Condemning the attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran valley, Bruce reiterated President Donald Trump's and Secretary Marco Rubio's stance. She stated clearly that the United States stands with India and has strongly condemned all acts of terrorism. On April 23, a day after the deadly attack in Pahalgam, Donald Trump condemned the terrorist attack and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express his condolences for the victims of the attack. Thanking Trump for his support, PM Modi asserted that India is determined to bring the perpetrators to justice. Several other world leaders have also condemned the attack and dialled up PM Modi, extending their support to India in its fight against terrorism. The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Kashmir. Nothing can justify such a heinous act killing tourists and civilians. Our thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. We continue to monitor the situation and call for perpetrators to be held… — State_SCA (@State_SCA) April 22, 2025 Modi's response to terror attack On April 24, PM Modi addressed a public meeting in Bihar's Madhubani and asserted that India will pursue the terrorists to the end of the Earth. He also added, 'Today, on the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world – India will identify, trace, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism.' India's response to the Pahalgam attacks Following the attack on civilians in Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley, India downgraded its diplomatic ties with Pakistan, after The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack. India also suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and shut the Attari border for all movement. NYT under fire for Pahalgam terror coverage Earlier today, The New York Times was criticised by the United States House Foreign Affairs Committee for its coverage of the Pahalgam attacks. The New York Times has been called out for its 'mischaracterising of the nature of the attack'. Downplaying the nature of the attack, The New York Times used 'militants' in its headline for the terrorist attack, the responsibility of which was claimed by a proxy group of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Trump calls J-K terror attack 'deeply disturbing', Putin terms it 'brutal'
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir was "deeply disturbing", asserting that the US stands strongly with India against terrorism. Terrorists opened fire at a famed meadow near Pahalgam town in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. "Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "We pray for the souls of those lost, and for the recovery of the injured. Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, and the incredible people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies. Our hearts are with you all!" he added. The 26 dead in the Pahalgam attack included two foreigners - from UAE and Nepal - and two locals, a high-ranking Indian official said, without getting into details. The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Kashmir. Nothing can justify such a heinous act killing tourists and civilians. Our thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. We continue to monitor the situation and call for perpetrators to be held… — State_SCA (@State_SCA) April 22, 2025 Vladimir Putin condemns terror attack in J-K Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the "brutal crime" has no justification whatsoever and its perpetrators will face a deserved punishment. In a communication to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin extended condolences over the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. He expressed "sincere condolences over the tragic consequences of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam whose victims were civilians citizens of various countries". "This brutal crime has no justification whatsoever. We expect that its organizers and perpetrators will face a deserved punishment," the Russian leader said. Putin reiterated Russia's commitment to further increasing cooperation with Indian partners in fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. "Please convey words of sincere sympathy and support to the near and dear ones of the deceased as well as wishes for a speedy recovery of all injured," he added. Multiple tourists were feared killed and at least 20 injured when terrorists opened fire in a picturesque meadow near Kashmir's Pahalgam town. The death toll could be more than 20, a high-ranking Indian official indicated without getting into details. The attack came during US Vice President J D Vance's maiden visit to India.
