As per the latest announcement shared by the US Embassy in India, foreign students found skipping classes or dropping out of their courses may risk losing their visa.
New Delhi: The United States Embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday warned Indian students studying in the US, or hopeful of pursuing their education there, that if they dropped out, skipped classes or left their programmes of study without informing their institutes, they risked revocation of their student visas along with loss of eligibility for future US visas.
The US Embassy said, “If you dropout, skip cases or leave your program of study without informing your school, your student visa may be revoked, and you may lose eligibility for future US visas. Always adhere to the terms of your visa and maintain your student status to avoid any issues.”
The US Embassy had last week warned that foreigners overstaying in the US after their visa expiry could be deported and face a permanent ban on travelling to the US in future. The US mission had said, "If you remain in the United States beyond your authorised period of stay, you could be deported and could face a permanent ban on traveling to the United States in the future."
It may be noted that the Trump Administration has been implementing a crackdown on foreign students in the US who have allegedly violated the conditions of their student visas including by indulging in political protests and backing Palestinian militant group Hamas. Some of these allegations have been contested by the concerned students.
The US is reportedly looking to terminate the visas of more foreign students including Indian students amid a crackdown that began in March this year when two Indian students faced action there on charges of supporting radical Palestinian group Hamas. The US has already been taking action to deport foreign students who have taken part in pro-Palestinian protests in university campuses or who have taken an anti-Israeli stand on their social media.
It may be noted that besides this, illegal immigration and deportation of such illegal immigrants has been one of the top priorities of the Trump Administration under US President Donald Trump. The United States had operated deportation flights to India a few months ago that had triggered a lot of controversy in India and the issue had even rocked Parliament.
India had stated in March this year that “the visa policy lies within the sovereign functions of a nation”. New Delhi had said, “We expect foreign nationals to abide by our rules. (Similarly) Indian nationals abroad must also comply with local rules and regulations.”
The MEA had also last month said it was aware that "several" Indian students in the US have received communications from authorities there on the status of their F1 (student) visas, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said last month, “We are aware that several Indian students have received communication from the US Government regarding their F-1 visa status, which happens to be the student visa. We are looking into the matter. Our Embassy and Consulate, they are in touch with the students to provide support”.
Washington had also recently said, “The Department of State is taking steps today to impose visa restrictions on owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies based and operating in India for knowingly facilitating illegal immigration to the United States. Mission India’s Consular Affairs and Diplomatic Security Service work every day across our Embassy and Consulates to actively identify and target those engaged in facilitating illegal immigration and human smuggling and trafficking operations. We will continue to take steps to impose visa restrictions against owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies to cut off alien smuggling networks. Our immigration policy aims not only to inform foreign nationals about the dangers of illegal immigration to the United States but also to hold accountable individuals who violate our laws, including facilitators of illegal immigration.” It had added, “Enforcing U.S. immigration laws and policies is critical to upholding the rule of law and protecting Americans. This visa restriction policy is global and even applies to individuals who otherwise qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. These actions are taken pursuant to section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.”
