The US government is considering a proposal that could restrict or end work authorization for certain H-4 spouses of H-1B visa holders. No rule has taken effect yet, and current H-4 EAD holders can continue working unless a formal policy change is finalized. Thousands of families living in the United States on H-1B visas could face a major financial and career setback if the federal government moves ahead with a proposal affecting employment rights for certa

Zohran Mamdani celebrated Raksha Bandhan with South Asian seniors at India Home in New York City on Friday, August 28, 2026. The mayor received a rakhi, spoke about mutual support and community, and linked the festival’s message to a safer, more affordable city. Mamdani joins Raksha Bandhan celebration New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani celebrated Raksha Bandhan with South Asian seniors at India

An Indian man wanted in connection with the killing of 27-year-old Nikitha Godishala in Maryland has been taken into custody in India, months after authorities said he fled the United States. The suspect, 26-year-old Arjun Sharma, was traced to a flat in Agra during an investigation by Hyderabad police into a separate cheating complaint filed by Godishala’s father, Anand Godishala. Authorities in the United States had obtained an arrest warrant for Sharma on first- and s

Three Telangana students were killed in a fiery single-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in Palm Bay, Florida, on Tuesday, August 25, after the vehicle they were traveling in left the highway and struck a roadside tree. One of the victims was identified as N. Rahul, from Navipet in Telangana’s Nizamabad district. I-95 crash occurred in Brevard County   The crash occurred at about 9:49 a.m. near mile marker 172 on northbound I-

Can an Indian citizen start a business in the US? Yes, but business ownership and permission to work are separate issues. This guide explains LLC registration, EIN requirements, taxes, immigration limits and why Indian nationals should check visa rules before operating a U.S. business. An Indian citizen can start or own a business in the United States, including while living in India. But ownership and permission t

Raising money for someone else on GoFundMe is common during medical emergencies and family crises. Organizers should clearly identify the beneficiary, explain where donations will go, preserve transfer records and understand when crowdfunding can create US tax questions. Can you create a GoFundMe for someone else? Yes. GoFundMe allows an organizer to raise money on behalf of another person and

Family members in India can send money for a relative's medical treatment in the US under RBI rules. Medical remittances have specific LRS provisions, documentation requirements and 2026 TCS rules, while very large transfers may also create US reporting obligations. Can family in India pay US medical expenses? Yes. A resident individual in India can remit money abroad for medic

Medical crowdfunding money is not automatically taxable in the US. Genuine donations made from generosity, with nothing expected in return, may be treated as gifts. But tax treatment can change based on who contributes, why funds are raised and whether goods or services are provided. Is medical fundraiser money considered taxable income? Money raised through a medical crowdfunding campaign is

Are GoFundMe donations tax-deductible in the United States? Personal fundraiser donations generally do not qualify, while donations to eligible nonprofit campaigns may. New 2026 federal rules also provide a limited deduction for certain cash gifts to qualified charities. Are personal GoFundMe donations tax-deductible? In most cases, donations to personal GoFundMe campaigns are not tax-d

GoFundMe donations tax rules can be confusing for NRIs supporting friends or relatives in the United States. Personal fundraiser contributions are generally not charitable deductions, while genuine gifts may have different income and gift-tax treatment. Are GoFundMe donations tax-deductible? Giving money through GoFundMe does not automatically create a U.S. tax deduction.

The Sandeep Billam fundraiser is seeking community support for a 27-year-old software engineer from Medak, Telangana, who is critically ill and unconscious in intensive care at Washington Hospital in Fremont after suffering brain bleeding, a seizure and stroke. Sandeep Billam critically ill in Fremont ICU A community appeal is seeking support for 27-year-old Sandeep Billam, a s

The F-1 fixed admission rule scheduled for September 15, 2026, would replace open-ended duration-of-status admissions with fixed periods. Indian students may face new requirements involving I-94 dates, program extensions, OPT, transfers and graduate study. F-1 students would receive a fixed admission date A major U.S. immigration rule scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026, would end th

Ohio power outages can create added problems for NRIs, international students and temporary visa holders who rent homes, rely on immigration documents or face food losses. This guide explains insurance, utility claims, SNAP limits and document protection after severe storms. Ohio outages create added concerns for NRI households Severe storms on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, caused widespread power failures across centra

Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has been appointed by Russia to an international arbitral tribunal hearing Ukrainian state-owned Oschadbank’s claim over assets and operations lost during the war. The treaty case involves losses in four Ukrainian regions and marks a notable new international role for the former CJI. Oschadbank claim Oschadbank’s claim concerns assets and busines

Telugu language preservation took focus at an August 6, 2026, gathering in Melissa, Texas, where Manikonda Nageswara Rao and Annamneni Sriram Murthy discussed mother-tongue continuity, cultural roots, family ties and journalism’s shift from print to digital media. Telugu language and cultural preservation took center stage at a community gathering in Melissa, Texas, on Thursday, August 6, 2026, where editor Manikonda Nag

A 26-year-old Andhra engineer dies in Ohio after a head-on crash on Interstate 480 in Macedonia. Dileep Kumar Bungatavula, a Kent State graduate from Kadapa, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Indian Consulate is assisting his family as police continue investigating the crash. Ohio crash on Interstate 480 Dileep Kumar Bungatavula, a 26-year-old software engineer from Andhra Pradesh, died in

An approved Form I-797 confirms an H-1B petition but normally does not replace the visa needed to return to the United States after travel abroad. H-1B workers should understand the roles of the visa stamp, I-797 and I-94, along with the narrow automatic revalidation exception. An H-1B worker may have a valid employment approval extending for months or years but still face a problem after leaving the United States: For

H-1B workers considering visa stamping outside India now face stricter U.S. guidance. Since July 15, 2026, nonimmigrant applicants should interview in their country of nationality or residence, while third-country applicants may face longer waits and greater difficulty qualifying. H-1B workers who cannot find convenient visa appointments in India sometimes consider traveling to another country for visa stamping. That strategy, commonly called third-country stamping,

An emergency H-1B visa appointment in India may be requested when an applicant has an urgent, unforeseen need for earlier U.S. travel. Applicants must first complete the DS-160, pay the visa fee and book a regular appointment before asking the consular section to expedite it. H-1B workers stranded in India because they need a new visa stamp may consider requesting an expedited visa interview when normal appointment dates are t

H-1B applicants in India who cannot find a suitable visa appointment still have several steps to consider. Current U.S. guidance allows applicants to watch for newly released slots and request expedited interviews for qualifying emergencies, while newer rules limit other shortcuts. H-1B workers who travel to India and need a new visa stamp can face a difficult situation when suitable interview appointments are unavailable. For someone expected back at a U.S. job, a