Page 15 - Us Visa

US visa fee hike: Take a look at the new H-1B, L-1 and EB-5 visa costs

The adjustments in fees may have a considerable impact on Indian nationals seeking to work or invest in the United States, especially for those applying for H-1B, L-1, and EB-5 visas

FY 2025 H-1B visa registration period extended by US: All you need to know

Originally set to conclude on March 22, 2024, the period has now been extended to March 25, 2024

Continuing to do everything to improve visa process, green card backlog: WH

US President Joe Biden is doing everything he can to improve the H1B visa process, 'green card' backlog and other issues related to the country's legal immigration system, the White House has said. The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. "One of the steps, if we look at the H1B visa process, we have taken action to improve that and the process and backlog for lawful permanent residents (green card) who are eligible to become US citizens," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference on Wednesday. She was responding to questions about the feeling among a section of Indian Americans that the president is not putting as much effort on addressing the woes of legal immigrants as he is doing for illegal immigrants. Biden heads to the southern border with Mexico in Texas on Thursday. "Just last month, for example, as a pa

Hike in US immigration fees will reduce volume of visa applications from India

The new H-1B application visa fee has been increased from $460 to $780, and the H-1B registration fee will rise from $10 to $215

US announces overhaul of its annual lottery for H-1B visas to reduce fraud

The US has announced a major overhaul of its annual lottery for the H-1B speciality occupation visas, popular among Indian IT professionals, to curtail the potential for fraud and improve and streamline the registration system. Separately, the US on January 29 has formally launched a pilot programme to renew the much sought-after H-1B visas domestically, a move that is likely to benefit thousands of Indian tech professionals. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. The new overhauled system, among other things, includes the provision of a beneficiary-centric selection process for registrations by employers. As a result, unlike in the past when multiple applications by an individual often resulted in abuse in fraud of the system, the H-1B vis

US Embassy sets new record in India, issues 140,000 student visas in 2023

The US Embassy and Consulates in India processed over 1.4 million visas, with visitor visas making up the highest number at 700,000

Govt seeks 'treaty status' from US for visa easing, trade boosting

Discussions on E1, E2 visas aimed at enhancing bilateral trade and investment

US may hike visa fee in 2024, H1-B pre-registration fee to go up 2050%

Higher fees would result in increased financial burden for individuals applying for the H1-B visa. The overall cost of hiring Indian talent for the U.S. market would increase,

US issued record 140K visas to Indian students last year, says official

As part of the Biden administration's endeavour to promote people-to-people ties with India, the US issued more than 1,40,000 visas to Indian students last year and is taking several steps to reduce visa appointment wait period. In an interview to PTI, Julie Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services, said US missions in India worked six, seven days a week to make sure that students could be interviewed before their classes started. This year, the US made a huge effort to concentrate on the demand coming out of India, she said. "We are really proud of what we have done in India this year. I think for the first time in history, we set a goal to issue one million visas in India and not only did we accomplish that, but it was done several months in advance. So, the number will go way beyond that. "There are record-setting numbers this year for workers, crew members and students applying in India to come to the United States," she added. Stufft further said, "We ...

US Embassy in India implements new changes in student visa process

Any applicant who has created a profile or booked an appointment using an incorrect passport number should create a new profile containing the correct passport information

Single-owner company proprietor not eligible for L1 foreign work visa: US

The United States on Friday said the owner of a single-person company is not eligible for an L1 foreign worker's visa. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the latest policy guidance clarified that a sole proprietorship may not file a petition on behalf of its owner. This is because the sole proprietorship does not exist as a distinct legal entity separate and apart from the owner, it said. The updated policy released Friday distinguishes a sole proprietor from a self-incorporated petitioner (such as a corporation or a limited liability company with a single owner), where the corporation or the single member limited liability company is a separate and distinct legal entity from its owner, which may petition for that owner. The USCIS also clarified guidance regarding blanket petitions. International organisations file blanket L-1 petitions on behalf of all individual entities named in the petition. The USCIS is updating its policy guidance to clarify that the failure t

US Embassy in India surpasses goal of processing 1 mn non-immigrant visas

The US Mission to India on Thursday surpassed its goal to process one million non-immigrant visa applications this year with Ambassador Eric Garcetti personally handing over the one millionth visa to a couple, who will be heading to the United States to attend their son's graduation at MIT. Dr Ranju Singh, senior consultant, Lady Hardinge College was elated at receiving an email from the US Embassy about hers being the one millionth visa this year. Her husband Puneet Dargan, was granted the next visa. The couple will be travelling to the US in May, 2024. Greeting the couple as "Mr and Mrs One million", Ambassador Garcetti enquired about their travel plans to the US and made suggestions about what not to miss in the country as a tourist. "I couldn't be happier today, happy for India, Indians and the United States. Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and President (Joe) Biden had said lets do a better job in moving faster on the visas and so the Ministry of External Affairs here approved .

Canada receives good response for new work permit for H-1B visa holders

The Canadian government's decision to allow 10,000 H-1B visa holders in the US to come and work in the country, which is expected to benefit Indian professionals, has received an overwhelming response with the scheme meeting its target within the first day. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. The new work permit for H-1B visa holders officially opened for applications on July 16. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) now says applicants no longer apply for the scheme as it has been closed. "We reached the cap of 10,000 applications for this initiative on July 17, 2023," the IRCC said on its website The message on the IRCC applicant portal also says the same thing. The temporary public policy for H-1B visa holders is n

What is recapturing of unused green cards and why will India gain from it

According to the Congressional Research Service, over the past two decades, the number of people on the waiting list for family-sponsored green cards has grown by over 100 per cent.

From July 16, those holding H1-B visa, kin can apply for jobs in Canada too

There are approximately 400,000 H-1B visa holders in the US, which is why the government is setting a cap on the new stream of people who could hold those visas at 10,000.

Biden admin to ease visas for skilled Indian workers as PM Modi visits US

Indian citizens are by far the most active users of the US H-1B program and made up 73% of the nearly 442,000 H-1B workers in fiscal year 2022

Hundreds of Afghans languish in Albania in a prolonged US visa process

Almost two years since he fled Afghanistan to escape the Taliban takeover, Firooz Mashoof is still haunted by the memory of his last day in Kabul the bus that took him to the airport, getting on a packed plane and taking off as gunfire echoed across the city. The last thing I saw were the mountains around Kabul and the dreary sunset as the Qatar Airways took off, he said. Today, thousands of miles from his homeland, the 35-year-old photojournalist and former employee of the Afghan soccer federation, is languishing in warm and sunny Albania. With each passing day, his anxiety grows over the delay in the promised US visa, casting a shadow on his dreams of a new beginning in America. For hundreds of others like him, it's an emotional roller coaster. Some try to find work and live with a semblance of normalcy but the concern and fear for families back home permeates their days even in welcoming Albania. They are hopeful, despite the prolonged bureaucracy, and look to a new life. In

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US lawmakers ask admin to address India visa wait time issue on priority

Describing India as an important partner wherein people to people relationship plays a significant role, top US lawmakers have urged the Biden Administration to address the visa wait time issue in India on a priority basis. Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Congressman Michael Waltz, Co-Chair of the House India Caucus, during two separate Congressional hearings on Consular Affairs Budget asked top State Department officials why people in India were facing visa wait time up to 600 days. "The United States enjoys strong people to people ties with India. India is now part of the QUAD. We are constantly engaging it in geostrategic interests that we have. New Jersey is home to a great number of Indian Americans and their families. I appreciate and applaud the department's heightened focus towards reducing wait times for first time B1-B2 applicants in India, Menendez said. "But despite that progress this past year, India continues to face the ..