A pending DHS rule could extend the $4,000 H-1B extension fee and $4,500 L-1 surcharge to routine stay extensions filed by large visa-dependent employers, increasing retention costs for technology and consulting companies and affecting many India-born professionals. DHS keeps broader surcharge at final-rule stage The Department of Homeland Security proposed the change on June 6, 2024. It would

The US visa bond program became permanent on August 3, 2026, allowing consular officers to require $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 bonds from certain B1/B2 applicants. The rule covers 50 countries, targets overstays and does not currently include Indian nationals. The U.S. State Department made its visa bond program permanent on Monday, August 3, 2026, allowing consular officers to require certain B-1, B-2 or combined B-1/B-2

ICE is seeking a $470,584 civil penalty from New York immigration attorney Suraj Raj Singh, alleging that 118 documents filed across 54 asylum-related cases repeated nearly identical persecution narratives. Singh may contest the notice before an administrative law judge. ICE alleges 118 fraudulent documents U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking a $470,584 civil penalty from New Yo

The US visitor visa bond program has become permanent, affecting selected B1/B2 visa applicants from 50 countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. Eligible travellers may need to pay a refundable bond of up to $20,000, depending on a consular officer's assessment. US Visitor Visa Bond Program Becomes Permanent The United States has

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district on Saturday, August 1, marking a major milestone for aviation and infrastructure development in North Andhra. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi will inspect the passenger terminal building at around 11:00 AM before formally inaugurating the airport at approximately 11:30 AM. He wil

Indian national Mitul Patel was fined $1,000 and ordered removed from the United States after admitting that a staged Worcester robbery was used to support a fraudulent U visa application. The case is part of a wider federal investigation in Massachusetts. Indian man sentenced in Massachusetts Mitul Patel, 40, an Indian national who had been living unlawfully in Worcester, Massachusetts, was se

An Abu Dhabi court dismissed a Dh100,000 Golden Visa compensation claim after an employee failed to prove that his employer promised a replacement contract. The court also found insufficient evidence tying the company to lost ILOE benefits or a Saudi job opportunity. An Abu Dhabi court has dismissed an employee’s Dh100,000 compensation claim against his employer, finding that he did not prove a promised replacement contr

The US is considering a $100,000 OPT fee for international graduates, though no formal policy has been issued. The proposal comes as a separate DHS rule ending duration of status for many F, J and I visa holders takes effect on September 15, 2026, nationwide. The Trump administration is considering a $100,000 fee connected to Optional Practical Training, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Thursday, July 30

The Padilla green card bill would replace the Registry’s January 1, 1972 cutoff with a rolling seven-year rule. Supporters say it could help more than 8 million long-term residents, including Dreamers, TPS holders and some H-1B workers, but the measure remains in committee. Sen. Alex Padilla renewed his push on July 27, 2026, for legislation that could allow millions of long-term U.S. residents to apply for lawful perman

USCIS scrutiny of H-1B workers seeking B-2 status is creating new uncertainty for laid-off professionals. Attorneys report more evidence requests, questions about temporary intent and job hunting, and pressure to secure a transfer or leave. USCIS increases scrutiny of B-2 applications Laid-off H-1B workers generally have up to 60 days to secure new employment, change immigration status or leave

Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh —YS Jagan accused Chandrababu Naidu of taking credit for the airport project as both parties intensified their political claims.​ Bhogapuram Airport Credit Row Intensifies A fresh political battle has erupted in Andhra Pradesh over credit for Bhogapuram International Airport near Visakhapatnam, days before its scheduled inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1. Former chief minister YS Jagan

Private summer camps in Beijing are reportedly preparing Chinese students for possible encounters with US immigration officers as anxiety grows over stricter enforcement and changing expectations for international students. Advertisements for the programmes describe simulations involving US Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in homes, schools and public places. The training forms part of broader safety courses that already cover sca

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the new Bhogapuram international airport near Visakhapatnam on Saturday, August 1.   PM Modi to Inaugurate Bhogapuram Airport on August 1 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Alluri Sitarama

The F-1 grace period will generally fall from 60 days to 30 days under the DHS fixed-stay rule effective September 15, 2026. Qualifying students protected by the transition provisions may retain 60 days after their Form I-20 or EAD end date, subject to the rule’s limits. The Department of Homeland Security’s final fixed-stay rule will reduce the standard F-1 departure period from 60 days to 30 days for students admitted un

F-1 student travel after September 15, 2026, may lead to a fixed admission period at reentry. Students should check the new Form I-94, understand how travel affects transition protection, and review risks involving OPT, STEM OPT and pending extension applications. The Department of Homeland Security’s final fixed-stay rule will change what happens when some F-1 students return to the United States after international travel. Published on Friday, July 17, 2026, it

The OPT under new F-1 rule creates a temporary Form I-539 exemption for qualifying students who file Form I-765 by March 18, 2027. Other post-completion OPT and STEM OPT applicants may need separate employment authorization and extension-of-stay filings. The Department of Homeland Security’s fixed-stay rule changes how some F-1 students will request post-completion Optional Practical Training and STEM OPT. Published on Friday, July 17, 2026, it takes effect on Tue

The F-1 transition rules allow many students maintaining D/S status in the United States on September 15, 2026, to remain through their current Form I-20 or EAD end date, subject to a four-year cap. Travel, program changes or additional study time may require new action. The Department of Homeland Security published its final fixed-stay rule on Friday, July 17, 2026. It is scheduled to take effect on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and includes a transition period for

The DHS F-1 duration of status rule takes effect September 15, 2026, replacing open-ended D/S admission with fixed stays. New students may receive up to four years, while eligible students already in the U.S. receive transition protection and new extension filing requirements. The Department of Homeland Security has finalized a rule ending the “duration of status,” or D/S, admission system for F-1 students. Published on Friday, July 17, 2026, the rule takes effe

A US federal appeals court has kept the Trump administration’s $100,000 charge on new H-1B petitions blocked, preserving a lower-court injunction while the government continues its appeal. The Trump H1B fee ruling affects employers, skilled workers and applicants following the wider immigration dispute. H-1B Fee Block Remains in Place On Friday, July 24, the Boston-based First US Circuit Cour

US visa restrictions for NRIs do not automatically affect ordinary Indian professionals, students or families. The new policy targets people linked to cyberscams, sextortion and enabling networks, while immediate family members of designated individuals may also face restrictions. The United States’ new global visa restriction policy targeting cyberscams, sextortion and related cyber-enabled crime may concern non-residen