Latest news with #U.S.CitizenshipandImmigrationServices
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Laid-off H-1B grad counts the days on borrowed time. Here's more to his ordeals
One recent graduate, after securing his first job on an H-1B visa, was laid off just a few weeks into the role. Now, nearly nine months later, he's still unemployed and clinging to hope on a temporary visa. After being laid off from his first job on an H1B visa, a 2024 graduate has struggled to find work for nine months.(X/@USAndIndia) The 2024 data science graduate told M9News that he's applied to over 300 positions since the layoff, but not a single job offer has come through. ALSO READ| India techie's F-1 visa 'Refused' for a this very reason, Redditor weighs in Laid-off graduate now battles immigration clock 'Every day feels like a countdown,' he said. 'I'm doing everything I can, but I'm running low on time, money, and hope.' Notably, after completing his Master's degree from a U.S. university and gaining internship experience, he landed a dream job. But only 30 days in, he was let go. 'I never thought my first job would only last 30 days. I feel stuck in limbo. There's no closure,' he admitted. 'I'm just surviving on borrowed time,' he sighed. Following the layoff, he used the standard 60-day grace period to try to find another job. When that window expired, and he had no offer of another one, he switched to the B2 visa, a temporary tourist visa, in an extreme measure to remain in the country legally and keep his job search. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has yet to review his application. 'Layoffs don't just end jobs—they uproot lives,' an immigration attorney told M9 News. 'And the current system provides no safety net.' ALSO READ| One family emergency away from losing your H-1B Visa? Indian techie's hidden fear US Visa ordeal stories like his aren't rare anymore Over the past year, waves of H1B layoffs have pushed thousands into a similar race against time. Many have already packed up and left. Like, one shared on Reddit, 'I was laid off in October 2024 (when my STEM OPT expired) and been jobless since.' 'I'm currently on an F1 visa doing my second Master's mainly to maintain my status (day 1 CPT). I'm 31 years old with quite a bit of my student loan left plus credit card debt that I am using to survive and continue studying after being laid off.'
Miami Herald
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
USCIS ends key parole benefit, says immigration fees will rise ‘soon'
After eliminating several immigration programs and benefits established by the previous administration under Joe Biden, the government of Donald Trump has decided to end another key aid for those seeking to regularize their immigration status in the United States. An update from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also warns that new fees will 'soon' be implemented for certain immigration benefit applications. The decision regarding one of the most commonly used forms by parole recipients went into effect on Thursday, July 17, 2025. What benefit was eliminated by USCIS? USCIS released a new edition of Form G-1055, the Fee Schedule. In this edition, it eliminates the eligibility for a fee waiver for Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, Parole Documents and Arrival/Departure Records, for immigrants applying for parole under the following categories: ▪ Initial Request for Arrival/Departure Record for Parole In Place (PIP), for noncitizens currently in the United States. ▪ Re-parole Requests for individuals who had previously received a period of parole under the PIP program. Read more: 'A privilege, not a right': Trump administration puts green card holders on notice From now now, those submitting these applications will have to pay the current fee of $630, as stated in the updated G-1055 document. Requirements for obtaining PIP vary by case, since the U.S. grants different types of temporary stay permits, ranging from family members of U.S. military personnel to individuals who qualify for humanitarian reasons. In 2024, the Biden administration proposed expanding parole in place to undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens who met certain requirements, such as having lived in the country for a minimum number of years. An estimated 500,000 people could have benefited from that measure, but a federal court in Texas blocked the process, known as the Keeping Families Together (KFT) initiative. USCIS announces increases to immigration fees On July 11, USCIS announced that it 'will soon begin charging new fees for certain immigration benefit requests.' 'We will provide details on the implementation of these fee changes in the coming days,' the agency noted, just before updating the parole in place form. These measures are part of the reforms promoted by President Trump as part of his 'One Big Beautiful Bill' budget plan, which was approved by the Senate. This legislation proposes sweeping changes to the immigration system, including: ▪ Stricter enforcement rules for immigration laws ▪ New restrictions on social benefits such as Medicaid or food stamps (SNAP) ▪ Increases in fees for essential immigration procedures, such as permanent residency, TPS and asylum applications.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
What is America's U Visa programme that US Immigration authority says is 'Great Idea Gone Terribly Wrong'
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently shared a post on social media platform X, stating 'The U visa program is another example of a great idea gone terribly wrong through gross mismanagement and corruption'. Highlighting that the program was envisioned as a law enforcement tool to protect bona fide alien crime victims, the U visa program is now being exploited by fraudsters and criminal aliens, their attorneys, and even corrupt law enforcement. The post further states that under the leadership of current US President Donald Trump and his administration, the USCIS has taken measures to stop U visa-related frauds in the country. The agency further states that its officers uncovered a pattern of inconsistencies among five U visa applications. These defendants include Chandrakant Patel, a/k/a 'Lala,' of Oakdale, Chad Doyle, chief of police for the City of Oakdale, Michael Slaney, a/k/a 'Freck,' marshal of the Ward 5 Marshal's Office in Oakdale, Glynn Dixon, chief of police for the City of Forest Hill and Tebo Onishea, former chief of police for the City of Glenmora. What is U visa program U visa is a non-immigrant visa program in the US that is designed to protect victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are willing to assist law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. If approved, the U visa provides the victim with: by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo temporary immigration status including work authorization; temporary immigration status for qualifying family members of the victim; and the possibility of lawful permanent resident status. Who are eligible for U visa in US Victims of the crimes like Domestic Violence, Extortion, False Imprisonment, Female Genital Mutilation, Kidnapping, Manslaughter, and Murder are eligible for U visa. USCIS within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), decides if a person is eligible for a U visa. Law enforcement does not determine who is eligible for a U visa; however, law enforcement provides information so that USCIS can determine if the person: is a victim of a qualifying crime or criminal activity; has information about the crime or criminal activity; and is, was, or is likely to be helpful in the detection or investigation of the qualifying crime or criminal activity, or the prosecution, conviction, or sentencing of the perpetrator of the qualifying crime or criminal activity AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- General
- Toronto Star
Attorneys sue to restore deportation protections for abused and neglected migrant children
FILE - An information packet and an American flag are placed on a chair at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Miami Field Office on Aug. 17, 2018, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) WL flag wire: true flag sponsored: false article_type: : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false :
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Feds charge 5 in Louisiana, including current and ex-police chiefs, over alleged visa fraud scheme
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Three current or former Louisiana police chiefs were arrested following a federal investigation into an alleged scheme that involved false police reports being sold to immigrants lacking permanent legal status and used to try to secure a visa, authorities said Tuesday. The forged police reports would indicate that the immigrant was a victim of a crime, U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook said at a news conference. 'We've brought these allegations against who we allege are corrupt officials, and we are not alleging that these are corrupt police departments,' Van Hook said, who said a total of five people have been arrested as part of the investigation, including the current or former police chiefs. Some crime victims, and their families, may be eligible for temporary visas – and, in some cases, a path to citizenship. About 10,000 people got these 'U-visas' in the 12-month period ended Sept. 30, 2022, the latest period for which the Homeland Security Department has published data. These special visas are specifically for victims of certain crimes 'who have suffered mental or physical abuse' and are 'helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity,' based on a description of the program published by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Lester Duhé, a spokesperson for the Louisiana attorney general's office, said that office was assisting federal agents with 'court-authorized activities' when asked about its role in the case. The current or former police chiefs are from small municipalities, that are near each other, in central Louisiana, which has multiple U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities. Although Louisiana does not share a border with a foreign country, there are nine ICE detention facilities in the state — holding nearly 7,000 people. At least two of the police chiefs were taken into custody at a police chief conference in Baton Rouge, WBRZ-TV reported. Local news outlets reported seeing ICE and FBI agents entering the homes of two of the chiefs. Additional details about the investigation, arrests and the alleged scheme were not made available. In 2021, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services warned that the U-visa program was susceptible to fraud after an audit from the Office of Inspector General found they had not addressed deficiencies in their process. The audit found the agency approved a handful of suspicious law enforcement signatures that were not cross-referenced with a database of authorized signatures, according to the OIG report. They were also not closely tracking fraud case outcomes, the total number of U-visas granted per year, and were not effectively managing the backlog, which led to crime victims waiting for nearly 10 years before receiving a U-visa. ___ Associated Press writer Valerie Gonzalez contributed to this report from McAllen, Texas.
