The DHS OPT fee proposal would require SEVP-certified U.S. schools to pay $70,000 before an initial F-1 OPT recommendation and $30,000 for later recommendations, potentially reshaping post-study work options for international students.   The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a major new fee structure for Optional Practical Training, or OPT, that would require participating colleges and universities to pay tens of thousands of dollars before

Foreign nationals facing criminal proceedings in India may still be able to seek renewal of an employment visa, but approval is not automatic. FRRO authorities examine eligibility, documents and applicable restrictions, while some cases may require separate court clearance. A pending criminal case in India does not necessarily mean that a foreign national is automatically barred from applying to renew an employment visa. However, the application can become more comp

An FRRO NOC may be required in certain Indian immigration or visa cases, depending on the applicant's visa category and circumstances. Here is how FRRO services work, when additional clearance may be sought and why an NOC does not itself guarantee visa approval. Foreign nationals living, studying or working in India may encounter the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, or FRRO, when dealing with registration and visa-related services. In some cases, applicants

Jacqueline Fernandez has received a Delhi court NOC allowing her to apply for renewal of her Indian work visa. The Sri Lankan actor remains involved in a ₹200 crore money-laundering case linked to Sukesh Chandrashekar, while the FRRO will decide her visa request independently. A Delhi court has granted actor Jacqueline Fernandez a no-objection certificate allowing her to apply for renewal of her employment visa in India while her money-laundering case continues.

The Mullin ChatGPT claim has drawn attention after DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin used an AI response while arguing that immigration could change the politics of Republican states. His immigration claim also included undocumented migrant estimates significantly above recent Pew and MPI figures. Immigration claim Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin accused Democrats of pursuing immigration policies that he said could change the p

An Indian student seeking an F-1 visa says an October 19, 2026 interview in Mumbai was canceled after the student refused an agent’s additional ₹20,000 demand, raising questions about private consultant fees, visa appointments and official U.S. student visa costs. An Indian student planning to study in the United States has alleged that an F-1 visa interview appointment was canceled after the student refused to pay a private agent an additional ₹20,000.

Canada work permit processing times are becoming more personalized for certain applicants, including some workers and international graduates, as IRCC provides estimates more closely tied to when an application was submitted rather than only a general current timeline. Canada has updated how some applicants see Canada work permit processing times, giving certain workers and international graduates estimates more closely connected to when their appl

Argentina golden passport plans would allow foreign investors to seek citizenship through a $350,000 Treasury contribution or an $800,000 government bond, as President Javier Milei’s government looks to attract foreign capital and expand investment migration. Argentina plans to launch a citizenship-by-investment program allowing foreign nationals to seek Argentine citizenship through a substantial financial commitment, as President Javier Milei’s government wor

US visa revocation can create serious travel problems for NRIs, especially Indian workers, students and families returning from India. This guide explains how revocation may affect return travel, dependents, visa stamping and future applications. For many NRIs, a U.S. visa is more than a travel document. It may be connected to employment, education or family life in the United States. That makes visa revocation particularly disruptive when an Indian profes

US visa misrepresentation can lead to permanent visa ineligibility when an applicant willfully provides a false material fact to obtain a visa or admission. This guide explains fraud, materiality, application mistakes, fake documents and possible waivers. Providing false information during a U.S. visa or immigration process can have consequences far beyond a single application. Under Immigration and Nationality Act Section 212(a)(6)(C)(i), a person who com

B1/B2 visa violations can occur when a visitor works without authorization, overstays an I-94 period, studies beyond permitted recreational activity or uses a visitor visa for a purpose requiring another visa category. A B1/B2 visitor visa allows temporary travel to the United States for specific business or tourism purposes. It does not provide unrestricted permission to work, study or remain in the country indefinitely. The State Department says B-1 visa

US visa social media screening has expanded to more nonimmigrant categories in 2026. Applicants may be asked to provide social media identifiers, while several visa groups are now instructed to keep profiles public or open for online-presence review. Social media has become an increasingly important part of U.S. visa screening, with the State Department expanding online-presence review to additional nonimmigrant visa categories in 2026. Most U.S. visa appl

An arrest, DUI or criminal case can affect a US visa, but the outcome depends on the offense, whether there was a conviction and the applicable immigration law. Current State Department guidance also permits prudential visa revocation in certain recent DUI cases. An arrest, DUI or criminal case can affect a U.S. visa, but the immigration consequences are not identical in every case. U.S. immigration law distinguishes between an arrest, a conviction and con

US visa revocation can prevent a traveler from using an existing visa to seek entry into the United States. This guide explains why visas may be revoked, how revocation differs from immigration status, what happens to future travel and whether a new visa application may be possible. A US visa revocation means an existing visa is no longer valid for travel to the United States. The U.S. State Department defines visa revocation as cancellation of a vi

US visa revocations have surpassed 250,000 since President Donald Trump returned to office, according to the State Department. The total includes cases involving criminal conduct, visa violations, fraud and about 2,300 revocations connected to birth tourism. The U.S. State Department says it has revoked more than 250,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, marking a major increase in immigration screening and post-issuance enforcem

India family green card applicants may fall under F1, F2A, F2B, F3 or F4 depending on their relationship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Each category has separate annual limits, priority dates and Visa Bulletin cutoffs. The U.S. family-sponsored green card system divides certain relatives into preference categories known as F1, F2A, F2B, F3 and F4. For applicants chargeable to India, these categories can have very different Visa Bulletin c

The EB-5 India Visa Bulletin separates unreserved investor visas from rural, high-unemployment and infrastructure set-asides. Indian applicants can face a cut-off date in the unreserved category while reserved categories remain current. The EB-5 India Visa Bulletin can look different from other employment-based green card categories because EB-5 visas are divided between unreserved visas and several set-aside categories

EB-2 and EB-3 are major employment-based green card categories used by Indian professionals. Eligibility standards differ, while priority dates, labor certification and monthly Visa Bulletin cutoffs determine when applicants may move toward permanent residence. EB-2 vs EB-3 India is an important comparison for employment-based green card applicants because the two categories have different eligibility standards and can have different Visa Bulletin c

The EB-2 India green card backlog affects advanced-degree professionals and people of exceptional ability seeking permanent residence in the United States. Visa limits, high demand and priority-date cutoffs determine when applicants may move toward final approval. The EB-2 India green card backlog reflects the large number of applicants competing for a limited annual supply of employment-based immigrant visas. Applicants comparing employm

The EB-1 India green card category covers extraordinary ability workers, outstanding professors or researchers and certain multinational executives or managers. Indian applicants must also track their priority date and the monthly Visa Bulletin before final green card approval. The EB-1 India green card route is the first preference category for certain highly qualified employment-based immigrants. USCIS divides EB-1 into three groups: people with e