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EB-5 visa: What is it, who can apply and how it is different from H1-B visa

H1-B visa requires a sponsor for the immigrant to stay in the US but no such sponsorship is needed in the EB-5 scheme

As US brings down third UFO in three days, here is all you need to know

The latest event is of the US military shooting down a fourth flying object over Lake Huron in Michigan. This comes after the US has already taken down UFOs in US and Canadian airspace

More than 10 US high-altitude balloons flew in our airspace: China

China on Monday said more than 10 US high-altitude balloons have flown in its airspace during the past year without its permission, following Washington's accusation that Beijing operates a fleet of surveillance balloons around the world. The Chinese allegation comes after the US shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had crossed from Alaska to South Carolina, sparking a new crisis in bilateral relations that have spiralled to their lowest level in decades. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin gave no details about the alleged US balloons, how they had been dealt with or whether they had government or military links. It is also common for US balloons to illegally enter the airspace of other countries," Wang said at a daily briefing. Since last year, US high-altitude balloons have illegally flown over China's airspace more than 10 times without the approval of Chinese authorities." Wang said the US should first reflect on itself and change course, rather than smear and

US to resume 'domestic visa revalidation' on pilot basis for H-1B holders

In a move that could benefit tens of thousands of foreign tech workers on H-1B and L1 visas, the US is planning to resume domestic visa revalidation in certain categories on a pilot basis with the goal of scaling it up in the next few years. The pilot project, to be launched later this year, when fully implemented, would be a big relief to thousands of Indian tech professionals in the United States. Until 2004, certain categories of non-immigrant visas, particularly the H-1B, could be renewed or stamped inside the US. After that, for renewal of these visas, in particular, those on H-1B, the foreign tech workers have to go out of the country, mostly to their own country to get the H-1B extension stamped on their passport. For all the H-1B visa holders, when their visa is renewed, they need to get their passports stamped with renewal dates. This is required if they wish to travel outside of the US and re-enter the US. As of now, H-1B visa restamping is not allowed within the ...

India 4th most powerful nation in Asia but an 'underachiever': Lowy report

The USA holds the most power in Asia, followed by China and Japan

Online petition launched to extend H-1B visa holders' grace period

Amidst massive layoffs in the American tech sector that have resulted in a large number of Indian professionals being jobless, two Indian-American organisations have launched an online petition urging President Joe Biden to extend the grace period of H-1B visas holders from two months to a year. This means that once fired from a job, a foreign tech worker on H-1B visas would have one year to find a new job instead of the existing duration of 60 days, after which they have to leave the country. 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. On behalf of immigrants (from the world, mainly from India and China) as well as naturalised citizens like Indian-Americans, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies and Global Technology Professionals ...

From China to big sky: The balloon that unnerved the White House

The biggest question was how would China respond to all the furore that was unfolding at a rapid pace as Asia was asleep

Chennai-based pharma firm recalls eye drops from US after 55 adverse cases

A Chennai-based company has recalled its eye drops from the US market after a US govt agency has informed the company that several adverse events had taken place

US jobless insurance claims near historic low despite cooling economy

Applications for US unemployment insurance last week fell slightly, hovering around historically low levels as the labor market holds strong despite a weakening economy

US FTC is preparing potential antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.com

The allegations the agency is preparing to make and the timeline for filing a complaint are still in flux, said the people, who asked not to be named speaking about a confidential probe

Adani rout eases, some relief after companies' market value almost halves

Friday was a relatively less damaging day in the stock rout that's wiped out about $112 billion from 10 Adani Group firms since US-based Hindenburg report

Weak earnings from tech giants call time on stocks rally, US payrolls loom

The MSCI World Stock Index slipped 0.2%, but was still near its highest since last August following a sharp rebound in recent weeks on hopes that central bank rate hikes are nearing an end

Dollar sustains momentum, rise slightly as traders await US jobs numbers

The dollar picked up against the euro, with the latter down 0.1% to $1.09 in early European trading

Oil prices rise as US recession fears over rate hikes ease, dollar weakens

Tamer rate hike expectations helped lower the dollar index, which supported oil prices as a weaker greenback makes the commodity cheaper for buyers holding other currencies

Prez Biden believed to have invited PM Modi for state visit to US: Report

US President Joe Biden is understood to have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state visit this summer, PTI has learnt. The invitation has been accepted in principle and officials on both sides are now working on mutually convenient dates, according to multiple sources, who noted that it is currently in the early stages of logistical planning. Given that India is hosting a series of events this year related to G-20 leading to a summit in September, which among others would be attended by Biden, it is reliably learnt that officials from the two sides are looking for appropriate dates in June and July when not only both the US House of Representatives and the Senate are in session but Modi has a couple of days at his disposal when he does not have a predetermined domestic commitment or international engagements. At least a couple of days are required for the state visit, which among other things includes an address to the joint session of the US Congress and a state dinner at

Indian-American Conrad elected as Washington State Democratic Party chair

Indian-American political consultant Shasti Conrad has been elected as the new chair of the Washington State Democratic Party, becoming the youngest and first Indian-American woman to serve as a state party chair in the US. Conrad, 38, a political consultant, ran unopposed, with the support of Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington's Democratic US senators, most of the state's Democratic congressional delegation and a majority of other elected Democrats. I'm so honoured to have the opportunity to serve as Chair of our state party and build on the outstanding success Washington Democrats have earned at the ballot box for the last six years, said Conrad, who has worked on political campaigns since 2008 when she got her start as a field organiser working for then-Senator Obama's primary campaign. I'm excited to work with Democratic leaders from every community to build an unprecedented field operation that will carry the message of how Washington Democrats are delivering for working families to .

US industry seeks R&D policy for India's pharma sector ahead of Budget 2023

Ahead of the Union Budget 2023-24, the US pharma industry has said that India should come out with a research and development policy for its pharmaceutical sector. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to table the Union Budget for the financial year 2023-24 before parliament on February 1. It is time that the government of India comes out with a research and development policy for the pharmaceutical sector, Karun Rishi, president of USA-India Chamber of Commerce (USAIC) told PTI. Based out of Boston, the USAIC for the last 16 years has been organising the India-US health care summit which is attended by the who's who of the pharma sector from both India and the United States. In the BioPharma sector, the budget should aim to move up the value chain driven by research and development. Right policy push can provide India the fuel to become the R&D hub of the world, Rishi said in response to a question. For national security and stabilising the global supply chain,

Senior US diplomat Nuland to visit India for foreign office consultation

A senior American diplomat will travel to India for foreign office consultations with her Indian counterpart, an official statement said on Saturday. The India visit of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland follows Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu's trip to New Delhi early this month. Nuland's India tour is part of a four-nation visit, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Qatar from January 28 to February 3. In Kathmandu, she will engage with the new government on the broad agenda of the US partnership with Nepal, the State Department said in the statement. While in India, the Under Secretary will lead the US-India annual Foreign Office Consultations which cover the full range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. She will also meet with young tech leaders, it said. In Sri Lanka, Nuland will mark the 75th anniversary of US-Sri Lanka relations and offer continued US support for Sri Lanka's efforts to stabilise the economy, ..

India, China ahead of US and EU members in many respects: Russian FM Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke at length on the development of new centres of economic power, and financial and political influence

Mistakes made in handling classified records: Pence takes responsibility

Former Vice President Mike Pence has said that he takes full responsibility after classified documents were found at his Indiana home. In his first public comments since the discovery, Pence on Friday said he hadn't been aware that the documents were in his residence but his lack of knowledge wasn't an excuse. Let me be clear about something: Those classified documents should not have been in my personal residence, Pence said at Florida International University, where he was talking about the economy and promoting his new book, So Help Me God." Mistakes were made. The discovery made public by Pence's team earlier this week marked the latest in a string of recoveries of sensitive papers from the homes of current and former top US officials. The Department of Justice was already investigating the discovery of classified documents in former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort and at President Joe Biden's home in Delaware and his former Washington office. The announcement of th