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Immigration
Page 2 - Latest Updates on Immigration
End OPT, other foreign student work programmes, US lawmakers tell govt
US lawmakers seek to end OPT, STEM-OPT and CPT, raising concerns for Indian students as work pathways linked to F-1 visas face review
 "End OPT, other foreign student work programmes, US lawmakers tell govt")
Canada visa update: Indians see faster visitor, study permit timelines
Canada's April 2026 IRCC data shows faster visitor visas, quicker study permits, and mixed trends in work permit timelines for Indian applicants
 "Canada visa update: Indians see faster visitor, study permit timelines")
US immigration backlog nears 12 million, deportation risk rises: Report
US immigration backlog: NPR analysis shows growing US immigration delays, with millions waiting months for confirmation, raising risks of losing legal status
 "US immigration backlog nears 12 million, deportation risk rises: Report")
Hajj 2026: Saudi Arabia bars visit visa holders, sets fines for violations
Saudi Arabia restricts Mecca entry to authorised pilgrims, imposes fines up to 20,000 riyals and sets deadlines for Umrah visitors ahead of Hajj season
 "Hajj 2026: Saudi Arabia bars visit visa holders, sets fines for violations")
H-1B visa fraud: Indian-origin duo hire workers for fake US university jobs
Two Indian-origin men admitted filing H-1B petitions for non-existent roles at the University of California, as US authorities point to wider fraud patterns
 "H-1B visa fraud: Indian-origin duo hire workers for fake US university jobs")
Green card holders beware: USCIS to recheck old approvals, expand probes
USCIS warns Green Card holders of stricter checks, says old cases will be re-vetted and public tip lines opened with ICE, CBP support
 "Green card holders beware: USCIS to recheck old approvals, expand probes")
US student visa refusals rise: India among worst-hit at 61%, says report
New report shows rising US visa denials, with India and Global South facing far higher rejection rates than Europe and North America
H-1B visa lottery FY2027: Wage rule, $100K fee lift selection rates to 60%
Selection rates hit 50-60 per cent in FY2027 H-1B lottery as wage-based system and $100,000 fee reduce applicant pool
 "H-1B visa lottery FY2027: Wage rule, $100K fee lift selection rates to 60%")
New Zealand raises visa income threshold to Rs 36 lakh April 2026
Planning to bring parents to New Zealand? Higher sponsor income and savings rules will apply from April 30, 2026
 "New Zealand raises visa income threshold to Rs 36 lakh April 2026")
Your old H-1B, student visa issues & social media posts can cause denials
Even past visa approvals may not protect you as USCIS revisits old records, flags inconsistencies, and raises new questions during applications and interviews
 "Your old H-1B, student visa issues & social media posts can cause denials")
Canada Express Entry revamp: Impact on Indians seeking Canada PR decoded
Canada's IRCC signals possible overhaul of Express Entry, linking PR selection to wages, job demand and long-term outcomes
 "Canada Express Entry revamp: Impact on Indians seeking Canada PR decoded")
Canada Express Entry: 4,000 French speakers invited for permanent residence
Canada's latest Express Entry draw targets French speakers, with CRS rising to 419. What it signals for applicants in the pool
 "Canada Express Entry: 4,000 French speakers invited for permanent residence")
Probe finds Pakistani, Bangladeshi nationals faking being gay for UK asylum
Undercover investigation claims migrants were guided to fabricate asylum cases; comes amid tighter UK asylum rules since 2025
 "Probe finds Pakistani, Bangladeshi nationals faking being gay for UK asylum")
US Visa Bulletin May 2026: EB-5 visa demand may hit limits soon for Indians
US Visa Bulletin: Rising demand from India in EB-5 category may lead to retrogression or unavailability, even as other employment-based categories remain unchanged
 "US Visa Bulletin May 2026: EB-5 visa demand may hit limits soon for Indians")
US legal immigration drops faster than illegal entries under Trump: Report
Legal immigration to the US has slowed sharply under Donald Trump, with cuts to family, student and H-1B visas outpacing declines in illegal entries
 "US legal immigration drops faster than illegal entries under Trump: Report")
UK permanent residence: Why 10-year ILR wait may fail migration goals
UK plans to extend settlement timelines, but researchers warn longer waits may not reduce migration and could affect jobs and integration
 "UK permanent residence: Why 10-year ILR wait may fail migration goals")
H-1B visa filings drop 10% across US banks in FY26 as policy changes bite
H-1B filings fell at major US banks in early FY26, with sharp declines at JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs even as some rivals reported gains
 "H-1B visa filings drop 10% across US banks in FY26 as policy changes bite")
Marriage green card scrutiny rises in US: Rules, proof, red flags explained
Scrutiny on marriage-based green cards in the US is rising. Here's what applicants need to know about proof, interviews, red flags, and penalties
 "Marriage green card scrutiny rises in US: Rules, proof, red flags explained")
Australia tightens student visas: 4 in 10 Indian visas rejected in 2026
Australia sees record student visa refusals in 2026, with Indian applicants facing stricter checks, higher evidence requirements and rising post-study visa costs
 "Australia tightens student visas: 4 in 10 Indian visas rejected in 2026")
Canada Express Entry: IRCC eyes single stream model, ranking system revamp
Canada proposes merging key immigration streams and revising CRS to prioritise high-skilled candidates and labour market outcomes
 "Canada Express Entry: IRCC eyes single stream model, ranking system revamp")