After Tri-Valley, University of Northern Virginia under probe for visa fraud. Most of the Students are from Andhra Pradesh and suffering quite badly.
WASHINGTON: US has assured to protect the interests of hundreds of Indian students at the University of Northern Virginia (UNVA), which was raided by investigating and law enforcement agencies on suspected charges of alleged visa fraud.
In a day-long exercise, which was continuing late in the evening, dozens of officials, from different federal agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI)), entered the Annandale campus of the university and took away with them a large number of boxes full of documents and computer hard drives from its administrative division.
"Today, officials from ICE's Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) served UNVA with a Notice of Intent to Withdraw (NOIW) UNVA's authorisation to admit foreign students," ICE spokeswoman Cori W Bassett in a statement.
Based in Annandale, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, the university is believed to have 2,400 students of which 90 per cent are from India, of which an overwhelming majority are said to be from Andhra Pradesh.
The university declined to make any comment, neither did it communicated with its students and staff, except for posting a notice on its entrance informing that the university is still open, but students have the choice to move to other varsities or look for other options if they want.
Informed sources said UNVA was authorised to issue I-20 form to about 50 students, but had issued and enrolled a much larger number.
However, based on the experience of the Tri-Valley case, and given that India had strongly objected to the manner in which its students were treated, US authorities are believed to have informed their Indian counterparts that they would be handling the present investigation and follow up action somewhat differently.
Unlike Tri-Valley University, the focus of investigations here is not on students but on the schools itself. No arrest, detention or electronic monitoring would be done on students, officials said.
Further, the university would not be immediately shut down. The university has been given a months' notice for explanation.
The present students would have one of the three options: continue at the university while it functions, seek transfer to another university and seek voluntary return to India.
In another major relief, visa status of the students would not be terminated, they would remain valid for their present duration, which would also provide time for seeking transfers while continuing in a valid visa status.
In another notice, ICE has informed the UNVA students that they have two choices - continue to attend classes and maintain their active status, seek transfer to another SEVP-approved institution.
"UNVA students must immediately depart the country if they are unable to continue to attend classes and maintain their active status in a manner required by the regulation or if they are unable or do not wish to seek transfer to another SEVP-certified institution," it said.
Showing posts with label General News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General News. Show all posts
Hemachandra Marrying Shravana Bhargavi - Singer Weds Singer in Tollywood
We are talking about the duo of Hemachandra and Shravana Bhargavi. Sources say both have decided to get married and as expected, this is love arranged. The engagement was already over. Hemachandra and Bhargavi are top Tollywood singers and given their work chemistry, whenever Hemachandra is singing, Shravana Bhargavi is pairing up with him in duet.
For now, the cine folks are waiting to hear the formal announcement on their happy moment which is expected soon. Till such time, here’s wishing advance congratulations to Hemachandra and Shravana Bhargavi!!
Tags: Hemachandra Shravana Bhargavi Marriage News, Wedding Dates, Photo Gallery, Pictures, Videos, Exclusive News Location details, Venue, Timings, Marriage date, Tollywood, Singer, Family Photos
Magsaysay Awards 2011 awards announced: Nileema Mishra, Harish Hande Won from India
Manila, Jul 27 : Asia’ s prestigious Roman Magsasay awards winners announced. Nileema Mishra, a woman lender to poorest in Maharashtra, and US-trained Indian engineer Harish Hande, who revolutionised use of solar lights, are among six people who have been awarded.
“The two had helped to harness technologies to empower their countrymen and created waves of progressive change across Asia,” award foundation president Carmencita T Abella announced.
Filipino charity group Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc (AIDFI), Hasanain Juaini, who set up an Islamic school for girls in Indonesia, his fellow countrywoman Tri Mumpuni, who promoted micro hydropower technology and Koul Panah, working to restore democracy in Cambodia are the other winners of the award, often described Asia’s Nobel prize.
The winners will receive a certificate, a medallion and a cash prize in Manila on August 31. The award is named after famous Philippine president who died in a plane crash in 1957.
“Harish Hande passionate and pragmatic efforts to put solar power technology in the hands of the poor …. has encouraged the poor to become asset creators,” the foundation said.
Mishra was recognised for “her purpose-driven zeal to work tirelessly with villagers in Maharashtra……to address both their aspirations and their adversities through collective action and heightened confidence.” Among other notable Indians who have been honoured with the coveted award include Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Jayaprakash Narayan, Mother Teresa, Arun Shourie, T N Seshan and Kiran Bedi.
PTI
Tags: Nileema Mishra, Harish Hande Photos, Gallery, Videos, Exclusive News, hails from
“The two had helped to harness technologies to empower their countrymen and created waves of progressive change across Asia,” award foundation president Carmencita T Abella announced.
Filipino charity group Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc (AIDFI), Hasanain Juaini, who set up an Islamic school for girls in Indonesia, his fellow countrywoman Tri Mumpuni, who promoted micro hydropower technology and Koul Panah, working to restore democracy in Cambodia are the other winners of the award, often described Asia’s Nobel prize.
The winners will receive a certificate, a medallion and a cash prize in Manila on August 31. The award is named after famous Philippine president who died in a plane crash in 1957.
“Harish Hande passionate and pragmatic efforts to put solar power technology in the hands of the poor …. has encouraged the poor to become asset creators,” the foundation said.
Mishra was recognised for “her purpose-driven zeal to work tirelessly with villagers in Maharashtra……to address both their aspirations and their adversities through collective action and heightened confidence.” Among other notable Indians who have been honoured with the coveted award include Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Jayaprakash Narayan, Mother Teresa, Arun Shourie, T N Seshan and Kiran Bedi.
PTI
Tags: Nileema Mishra, Harish Hande Photos, Gallery, Videos, Exclusive News, hails from
Let US consulate in Chennai adjudicate blanket L visa applications
The US consulate in Chennai should be designated as the only post in India authorised to adjudicate blanket Lvisa applications, mostly involving requests from IT professionals, according to an official report here.
In a wide-ranging set of recommendations, the 90-page report of the Office of the Inspector General on the US diplomatic posts in India said that one of the biggest challenges consular managers in India face is ensuring consistency in the standards of adjudication on H and L visas.
"The inconsistencies arise from the complexity of these visa categories and create public relations problems, as large companies note different decisions for employees in similar circumstances," it said.
"Mission India processes more such cases than any other mission in the world. Many involve applicants who work in the information technology sector. Because the law is complex, consular officers need more time to adjudicate such cases and need to exchange ideas with their colleagues who are working on similar cases. Officers must refuse applicants who do not meet the qualifications under the law," it said.
"Because the applicants apply based on petitions that were approved by theDepartment of Homeland Security, consular officers must request that department to revoke the petitions," said the report, which was made public yesterday.
It also recommended that the US embassy in New Delhi should coordinate with Consulate General Chennai so that the call centre in New Delhi will respond to all routine phone calls and emails for Chennai as it does for the other posts in India.
Given the heavy demands on their time, the Ambassador, deputy chief of mission (DCM) and senior staff should develop a comprehensive strategy to allocate the Ambassador's and their responsibilities for engaging with top-level Indian counterparts and for managing their growing workload, the report said, adding theDCM should lead this effort.
It recommended that the US consulate in Chennai should be designated as the only post in India authorised to adjudicate blanket L visa applications.
Noting that housing issues are the mission's greatest management challenge and finding affordable, quality housing is becoming increasingly difficult, especially in New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, the report said the mission and the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations should plan to build housing units on US Government-owned land.
In a wide-ranging set of recommendations, the 90-page report of the Office of the Inspector General on the US diplomatic posts in India said that one of the biggest challenges consular managers in India face is ensuring consistency in the standards of adjudication on H and L visas.
"The inconsistencies arise from the complexity of these visa categories and create public relations problems, as large companies note different decisions for employees in similar circumstances," it said.
"Mission India processes more such cases than any other mission in the world. Many involve applicants who work in the information technology sector. Because the law is complex, consular officers need more time to adjudicate such cases and need to exchange ideas with their colleagues who are working on similar cases. Officers must refuse applicants who do not meet the qualifications under the law," it said.
"Because the applicants apply based on petitions that were approved by theDepartment of Homeland Security, consular officers must request that department to revoke the petitions," said the report, which was made public yesterday.
It also recommended that the US embassy in New Delhi should coordinate with Consulate General Chennai so that the call centre in New Delhi will respond to all routine phone calls and emails for Chennai as it does for the other posts in India.
Given the heavy demands on their time, the Ambassador, deputy chief of mission (DCM) and senior staff should develop a comprehensive strategy to allocate the Ambassador's and their responsibilities for engaging with top-level Indian counterparts and for managing their growing workload, the report said, adding theDCM should lead this effort.
It recommended that the US consulate in Chennai should be designated as the only post in India authorised to adjudicate blanket L visa applications.
Noting that housing issues are the mission's greatest management challenge and finding affordable, quality housing is becoming increasingly difficult, especially in New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, the report said the mission and the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations should plan to build housing units on US Government-owned land.
Hina Rabbani Khar Glamorous, Beautiful, Cute Pictures
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Sachin Tendulkar closer to get Bharat Ratna?
The home ministry has written to the Prime Minister's Office to include sports as a category in Bharat Ratna. The recommendation will pave way for cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to be awarded India's highest civilian award.
If awarded, Sachin will become the country's first sportsperson to bag Bharat Ratna and the clamour has specially grown especially after Sachin helped India lift the World Cup earlier this year.
Tendulkar deserves to get Bharat Ratna, says Deshmukh
Newly-elected president of theMumbai Cricket Association, Vilasrao Deshmukh, on Friday said that Sachin Tendulkar deserved to get Bharat Ratna and no one would object if the champion cricketer got the country's highest civilian award.
"Sachin deserves Bharat Ratna. Being the president of Mumbai Cricket Association, I would talk to the sports minister, home minister and Prime Minister and request them to change the norms for the award to include sportspersons too in its category of recipients," Deshmukh said.
Deshmukh chaired the first managing committee meeting of theMCA after his election to the president's post at the biennial polls of the association held on July 15. The former Maharashtra CM had vanquished former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar comfortably in a straight contest to succeed another politician, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, as the MCA president.
Book Shirdi Sai Darshan & Lodging Online
Good news for Shirdi Sai devotees, now Shirdi Sansthan offering online service. with this we can book advance Sai darshan timings and lodging. This service is available with a new project called 'Sai Tech Project'. This project is developed with the help of Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS), Pune. This project costs nearly Rs.22 crores.
This site is as good as TTD website, Shirdi Sai Trust is planning to keep about 35 computers in Saibaba temple area for the devotees to register.
We are yet to know the direct link of how to book darshan, lodging online. This facility is available from July 15th onwards i.e., Guru Purnima day.
This site is as good as TTD website, Shirdi Sai Trust is planning to keep about 35 computers in Saibaba temple area for the devotees to register.
We are yet to know the direct link of how to book darshan, lodging online. This facility is available from July 15th onwards i.e., Guru Purnima day.
MNP,Mobile Number Portability proves Consumer is King
Across India, 17.11 lakh users opted for MNP up to now...
Mobile Number Portability -MNP has give the consumer better option and allowing users the option to switch to another mobile service provider even while retaining their familiar mobile-phone numbers. In Andhra Pradesh, 72,000 subscribers have opted for MNP; across India, 17.11 lakh users up to now. Application for portability must be followed by verification by the new service provider, which is accepting the ‘port-in’. The subscriber then is bound to stay with the new operator or ‘donor’ for at least three months.
People in a Closed User Group - CUG who wish to port-out will have to move out of the service and opt for a new operator. CUG beneficiaries can move as individuals, not as a group. Once the port-in is done, the new subscriber would have to stay with the donor for at least three months. The UPC is generated by the donor operator following an SMS on 1900. The first two characters of the UPC is made up of alphabets denoting the service provider code and service area code and then six digits are numerical characters. The numeric zero is not allowed. Some companies have rejected MNP requests by subscribers after finding some faults in their Unique Porting Codes. Sources in the industry informed that only 5.8 per cent of the subscriber base in India has opted for the MNP.
Mobile Number Portability -MNP has give the consumer better option and allowing users the option to switch to another mobile service provider even while retaining their familiar mobile-phone numbers. In Andhra Pradesh, 72,000 subscribers have opted for MNP; across India, 17.11 lakh users up to now. Application for portability must be followed by verification by the new service provider, which is accepting the ‘port-in’. The subscriber then is bound to stay with the new operator or ‘donor’ for at least three months.
People in a Closed User Group - CUG who wish to port-out will have to move out of the service and opt for a new operator. CUG beneficiaries can move as individuals, not as a group. Once the port-in is done, the new subscriber would have to stay with the donor for at least three months. The UPC is generated by the donor operator following an SMS on 1900. The first two characters of the UPC is made up of alphabets denoting the service provider code and service area code and then six digits are numerical characters. The numeric zero is not allowed. Some companies have rejected MNP requests by subscribers after finding some faults in their Unique Porting Codes. Sources in the industry informed that only 5.8 per cent of the subscriber base in India has opted for the MNP.
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