Honor visas issued by your embassies and consulates: MEA.
AB Wire
The controversy of some Indian students on F-1 visas being denied entry to the US, their visas revoked and later deported has escalated as reports have now surfaced that more such students had faced the same ordeal, as well as some other Indians on other visas, including business, work and visitor visas.
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) has said that it has asked US officials to honor the visas issued by their own embassies and consulates, reported The Times of India.
The Hindustan Times reported on Wednesday that many more Indian students on F1 visas and other Indian nationals have recently been deported after immigration officials revoked visas issued by the American embassy and consulates in India.
US immigration officials had earlier denied entry to a number of students, who had been admitted to two California universities that have been ‘blacklisted’.
India’s statement to this effect was part of an advisory it issued to all Indians travelling to the US. The advisory asked the travelers to carry proper documentation to ensure they are admitted into the US.
The row over the denial of entry to the students has also been accompanied by a similar turning away of some business travelers and tourists.
The US, however, has said its decision to deny entry to even those with valid visas had nothing to do with the ‘blacklisting’ of the two universities. It said some individuals had been denied entry as they provided ‘inconsistent information’ to immigration officials, the Times of India reported.
“We have strongly emphasized the need for the US authorities to honour the visas issued by their own Embassy/Consulates,” read the advisory issued by the MEA.
“The US Government has conveyed that the decision to deny entry to these students is not because of the corresponding institutions being ‘black-listed’ but based on the assessment made by the US immigration authorities of individual applicants,” said the MEA.
“According to the US Government, the deported persons had presented information to the border patrol agent which was inconsistent with their visa status,” the MEA advisory read, adding that India continues to remain closely engaged with the US Government on this subject.
The advisory stressed that all Indian students seeking admission in US educational institutions should do due diligence to ensure that the institutions to which they are seeking admission have proper authorization and capacities.
Apart from travel documents, the students should also carry all required documentation regarding their study plans, housing, financial support, health care arrangements etc. and be prepared for admission (entry to the US) interviews with US immigration officials, it said.
In continuation of December 23 advisory in connection with denial of entry by the US to Indian students having valid student visas to pursue studies in educational institutions -Silicon Valley University at San Jose and Northwestern Polytechnic University, Fremont, the ministry noted that there have been more cases of deportation of Indians.
1 Comment
It is getting worse. Some students being harassed while in the US too. Petition to ease F1 student visa issues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9ug7OI2PPQ