Immigration

WASHINGTON, DC- US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced an increase in fees for premium processing of several immigration benefits, including the H-1B visa, effective March 1. USCIS said the premium processing fee has been increased to reflect the amount of inflation

Photo: Wikipedia India-West News Desk BOSTON, MA - U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from ending the legal status of more than 10,000 immigrants, ruling that the government failed to properly notify those affected before moving to

Photo: DHS.gov India-West News Desk INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Two Indian nationals residing illegally in the United States are facing federal scrutiny after Indiana authorities discovered more than 300 pounds of cocaine concealed within their semi-truck. Jasveer Singh illegally entered the United States in March

India-West News Desk SACRAMENTO, CA - After being sued by Sikh and immigrant rights groups, California has halted plans to revoke thousands of commercial truck driving licenses held by migrant drivers, delaying a move that had been set to take effect

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC - After an Obama appointed federal judge upheld President Donald Trump’s $100,000 H 1B visa application fee, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has moved to appeal the ruling, escalating a legal fight with major implications for

SEATTLE, WA -Amazon has granted a temporary exception until March 2, to its in-office policy for employees stranded in India due to prolonged U.S. visa processing delays. The policy applies to employees who were in India as of December 13 and

WASHINGTON, DC -A federal judge in California has directed US immigration officials to justify the detention of an Indian national after finding his legal challenge credible enough to proceed. The order was issued on December 24 by the US District Court for

WASHINGTON, DC -An advocacy group warned this week that online posts targeting the community could lead to real-world harm as it urged social media platforms and law enforcement agencies to intervene before tensions escalate. The Indian American Advocacy Council (IAAC) said

 Photo: File pix Sikh Coalition India-West Staff Reporter OAKLAND, CA - The Sikh Coalition, on December 22, along with co counsel from the Asian Law Caucus and the law firm Weil Gotshal and Manges, has filed a class action lawsuit against the

WASHINGTON, DC-The Trump Administration on December 23 announced sweeping changes to the H-1B work visa selection process, replacing the long-standing random lottery with a weighted system that prioritizes higher-skilled and higher-paid foreign workers. The move, according to the Department of Homeland

CUPERTINO, CA - Google has warned some employees against traveling overseas after learning that US visa reentry processing at American embassies and consulates is facing significant delays that in some cases could stretch up to 12 months. In an email to

NEW DELHI - India continues to send a large number of students overseas for higher education, with more than 1.3 million studying abroad in 2024, highlighting the country’s growing dependence on foreign universities despite having the world’s largest college-age population,

WASHINGTON, DC -  A US federal court has ordered immigration authorities to provide an Indian national held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody with a bond hearing within five business days or release him, ruling that his continued detention

 Photo: LinkedIn India-West News Desk SAN JOSE, CA - India born entrepreneur Jyoti Bansal’s journey from a small town in Rajasthan to Silicon Valley billionaire is a classic immigrant success story and one that stands out in these fraught times, when immigrants

India-West News Desk SACRAMENTO, CA - With January 6 approaching, a new flashpoint is emerging in the national immigration and transportation debate, as thousands of immigrant truck drivers across California prepare to lose their commercial licenses under tighter federal enforcement rules. State

WASHINGTON, DC -A US federal appeals court has denied a petition by an Indian national challenging a final administrative removal order issued by the Department of Homeland Security, ruling that alleged procedural errors did not cause him any prejudice. In an order issued

WASHINGTON, DC -As part of efforts to strengthen national security and curb identity fraud, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on December 12 issued new policy guidance sharply limiting how old a photograph can be when used to produce

Photo: Gofundme India-West News Desk LONG BEACH, CA – Natraj Cuisine of India has been a presence in the vibrant Belmont Shore neighborhood in this city of Southern Californians for decades. A familiar storefront on 2nd Street where generations of Long Beach

WASHINGTON, DC- The Trump administration diverted more than $2 billion from US military funds in 2025 to support immigration enforcement operations, weakening military readiness and straining servicemembers, according to a report released by Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The report, titled

India-West News Desk NEW DELHI -The United States has warned that any indication of plans to give birth in the country to secure American citizenship for a child will result in visa denials. The  US Embassy in India said consular officers “will deny tourist

WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald Trump released the “Trump Gold Card” that he said would allow companies to retain top graduates from American universities, including thousands from India. He described the existing system that forces skilled talent to leave after completing their

WASHINGTON, DC- The United States has revoked 85,000 visas across multiple categories this year, a senior State Department official said, describing the action as part of an intensified effort to protect American communities and enforce public-safety standards. This revocation figure is more

WASHINGTON, DC- A group of Republican lawmakers is urging the White House to shut down the Optional Practical Training (OPT)program, saying the long-standing work authorization pathway for foreign students was never approved by Congress and has grown into what they call

Designed by Freepik WASHINGTON, DC -In a move that will significantly affect hundreds of thousands of Indian professionals and families navigating the US immigration system, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced sweeping reductions to the maximum validity of Employment Authorization

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC-The United States has widened its online-vetting requirements for foreign workers, directing all H-1B applicants and their H-4 dependents to keep every social-media profile publicly visible starting December 15. The move, announced by the State Department, adds

India-West Staff Reporter WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), along with Rep. Adam Smith, has introduced the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, legislation to enact guardrails and oversight on immigration detention, and to ensure civil and human rights are protected.  “Under the Trump Administration,

Photo: DHS India-West News Desk BEND, OR-A 32-year-old Indian national, Rajinder Kumar of Fresno, CA, has been arrested after a semi-truck crash in Oregon killed a newlywed couple, according to statements released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Oregon

NEW DELHI- Days after an Afghan national opened fire at two National Guard members near the White House, US President Donald Trump has said he intends to “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries.” The proposed move, if implemented, could

WASHINGTON, DC- The White House defended US President Donald Trump’s views on the H-1B visas, saying that he has a “nuanced and common-sense opinion on this issue.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump would allow the importing of foreign

WASHINGTON, DC -US President Donald Trump on November 19 defended legal immigration, saying he would welcome "thousands of people" from abroad to train American workers in tech-related industries. After making years of accusation about “outsiders”, he said, “You can't come in,

India-West Staff Reporter WASHINGTON, DC-The Department of Homeland Security has launched a new training website aimed at helping U.S. schools identify and prevent student visa fraud, according to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The resource, housed within SEVP’s newly created

India-West Staff Reporter WASHINGTON, DC – Citing two high-profile incidents involving Sikh drivers, Congressman Van Drew (R-NJ) has introduced legislation to bar states from issuing commercial driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. The No Commercial Driver's Licenses for Illegals Act would require states

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC — The number of new H-1B visas secured by Indian companies has plunged, marking a dramatic shift, Bloomberg reported, citing newly released U.S. government data. According to the analysis, petitions for initial H-1B employment filed by Indian

WASHINGTON, DC-US universities have reported a 10 per cent drop in graduate enrollment from India in 2024-25, alongside a sharper 17 per cent decline in international students in the fall of 2025, according to a new US State Department-funded report. The

Photo: Facebook India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) unveiled plans on November 13 to introduce legislation aimed at phasing out the H-1B visa program, with the ultimate goal of eliminating it entirely. Data shows that nearly 70 percent

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC – Officials are scrambling to clarify the U.S. government’s position on H-1B visas after President Donald Trump appeared to signal a softer stance, telling Fox News that “you do have to bring in talent.” The remark

Photo St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office India-West News Desk SACRAMENTO, CA - After two recent crashes in Florida and California involving truck drivers drew national attention to immigrant drivers’ English proficiency and their legal status, California announced plans to revoke 17,000 commercial

India-West News Desk SAN JOSE, CA - An Indian-origin software engineer has filed a lawsuit against his Indian American employer, alleging exploitation under the federal H-1B visa program and claiming that caste-based practices were carried into the workplace. The case highlights

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC – “You do have to bring in talent,” President Donald Trump told Fox News host Laura Ingraham on November 11, startling his MAGA base. When loyalist Ingraham insisted, “We have plenty of talent,” Trump countered, “No,

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC-The Trump administration’s State Department has issued new guidance empowering U.S. visa officers to deny applications from foreign nationals based on a wide range of chronic medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. The directive, which was

India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Donald Trump administration has revoked approximately 80,000 non-immigrant visas since its January 20 inauguration, according to a senior State Department official speaking November 4 on condition of anonymity to Reuters. These 80,000 revocations span various offenses. Specifically, roughly 16,000 were linked to driving under

India-West News Desk PHILADELPHIA, PA - Two judges have blocked the deportation of Subramanyam Vedam, the Pennsylvania man who spent more than 40 years in prison for a murder conviction that was recently overturned. Vedam, 64, known to his family as “Subbu,”

India-West News Desk TORONTO – Canada’s tightened immigration rules are taking a heavy toll on Indian students, with rejection rates for study permits soaring amid mounting concerns over fraud linked to student visa applications, Agence France-Presse reported. According to recent government data,

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta, joined by Congressmen Ami Bera, Salud Carbajal, Derek Tran, and Congresswoman Julie Johnson, has written to President Donald Trump, urging him to reverse his September 19 Proclamation limiting H-1B visas. The lawmakers warned

NEW DELHI - Over 2,790 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States this year for illegally staying in the country, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on October 30. The exercise was conducted after the Indian authorities thoroughly verified their credentials and nationality. "Since

India-West News Desk TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on October 30 that he has ordered the Florida Board of Governors to stop the use of H-1B visas in state universities, citing concerns over “abuse” and emphasizing the need

India-West Staff Reporter WASHINGTON, DC — In a policy move affecting skilled workers and students from India, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced it will end the automatic extension of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain visa categories,

Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection India-West News Desk WASHINGTON, DC — Beginning December 26, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin photographing all non-U.S. citizens — including green card holders — as they enter and leave the country, under new

India-West News Desk NEW DELHI -Fifty-four men from Haryana,  have been deported from the United States for allegedly entering the country through the “donkey route,” an illegal and often dangerous migration pathway. The deportees arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport

WASHINGTON, DC - A recent study by the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, says that “Indian immigrants are the most economically beneficial immigrant group” in the US that reduces national debt and contributes to GDP growth. The report, published by the Institute on October 23, also revealed that an average Indian