New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the continuation of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) Scheme beyond March 31, 2026 for a period of five years — from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031 — with a budget outlay of Rs 1,800 crore.The IVFRT platform seeks to interlink and optimise functions related to immigration, visa issuance and registration of foreigners in India. The core objective of the…
Latest Immigration News & Updates
Washington, March 20 (IANS) The H-1B visa programme, a key route for Indian professionals to work in the United States, came under fresh scrutiny in Congress this week as lawmakers debated reforms to support economic growth and address labour shortages in an ageing workforce.At a US Congress Joint Economic Committee hearing, policymakers and experts questioned whether the current lottery-based system is fit for purpose, with proposals ranging from wage-based selection to greater worker mobility….
Washington, March 19 (IANS) US Homeland Security Secretary nominee Markwayne Mullin said he supports legal immigration but will push for stricter enforcement of immigration laws.Testifying before the Senate on Wednesday (local time), Mullin drew a clear line between legal and illegal migration. He said the system must continue to work for those who follow the rules.“We do have naturalisation ceremonies Monday through Friday in this country,” he said. “We’re going to continue working with…
Washington, March 18 (IANS) The US is expanding its visa bond programme to cover 50 countries from April 2, requiring foreign nationals seeking B1 and B2 visas for business and tourism to post a $15,000 bond, the State Department said Wednesday. The bond will be returned to visa holders who comply with the terms of their stay and leave the US on time, or if they do not travel.The move is aimed at curbing illegal overstays, which U.S. authorities say have been significantly reduced under the prog…
New York, March 18 (IANS) Raja Krishnamoorthi, a moderate Democrat member of the House of Representatives but a strong critic of President Donald Trump, narrowly lost the Illinois primaries for the party’s Senate nomination.He conceded in a statement Tuesday night that Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton had won.At 10 pm local time in Illinois three hours after the polls closed, when Stratton was ahead of him by about 6 per cent with about 85 per cent of the votes counted, Krishnamoo…
Washington, March 9 (IANS) A Democratic lawmaker has introduced a legislation in the US House of Representatives seeking to nullify President Donald Trump’s proclamation that imposed strict wage requirements and steep fees on employers hiring H-1B visa workers.Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman announced the measure, titled the Welcoming International Success Act, aimed at reversing the September 2025 proclamation that mandated rigid wage levels and imposed a $100,000 fee on employers sponsor…
Washington, March 7 (IANS) The Hindu American Foundation has joined dozens of faith-based organisations in urging the US Supreme Court to uphold birthright citizenship, warning that any attempt to limit the constitutional right would unsettle immigrant families and threaten religious diversity in the country.On February 26, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) joined 57 faith-based organisations to file an amicus brief in Trump v. Barbara, a case currently under review by the US Supreme Court, ac…
Washington, March 3 (IANS) Texas House Republicans have called for an immediate freeze on new H-1B visas and a pause on immigration after what they described as a terrorist attack in Austin that killed two people and injured 14 others.In a March 2 letter to congressional leaders, the State lawmakers said they were writing “in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attack on the citizens of Austin, Texas.”They said that in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 1, 2026, “a gunman opened…
Washington, Feb 27 (IANS) New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani held an unannounced meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, marking a striking encounter between two political opposites who have clashed sharply in recent months.The meeting was not listed on the public schedule. No television cameras were invited into the Oval Office. Hours later, Mamdani described the interaction as “a productive meeting” and said he was “looking forward to building more housing in New York Cit…
Washington, Feb 25 (IANS) US President Donald Trump declared that America was “winning again,” touting sweeping tax cuts, what he called the “strongest and most secure border in American history,” and a new policy to shield consumers from rising electricity costs linked to artificial intelligence.“For all these reasons, I say tonight—Members of Congress, the state of our union is strong,” Trump said in his State of the Union address.On the economy, Trump said his administration had del…