PunjabENews

Category: Edu / Immi

  • US clarifies new H-1B visa fee hike applies only to fresh applications

    US clarifies new H-1B visa fee hike applies only to fresh applications

    Washington: After President Donald Trump raised the H-1B visa fee to USD 100,000, the United States has clarified that the rule will not apply to existing visa holders or those seeking renewals.

    White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt posted on X on Saturday, saying, “It applies only to new visas, not to renewals, and not to existing visa holders.”

    Trump had signed an executive order on Friday, calling the misuse of the H-1B visa programme a threat to national security.

    As per the decision, effective September 21, foreign workers applying for an H-1B visa will be required to pay USD 100,000 with their application. Those failing to do so will be barred from entering the US.

  • India expresses concern over US decision to raise H-1B visa fee to $1 million

    India expresses concern over US decision to raise H-1B visa fee to $1 million

    New Delhi: India has expressed concern after the United States announced a steep increase in the cost of H-1B visas, raising the annual application fee to USD 1 million (around Rs 88 lakh). The new rule, signed by President Donald Trump at the White House on Saturday, will come into effect from September 21.

    Responding to the development, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the move will have a humanitarian impact as many families are likely to be affected.

    He added that the Indian government hopes U.S. authorities will take into account these concerns and find workable solutions.

    The H-1B visa, widely used by Indian professionals in the technology sector, previously cost about Rs 5 lakh and was valid for three years, with an option to renew for another three.

    Under the revised structure, the six-year cost will rise to around Rs 5.28 crore, more than 50 times the current expense.

  • President Trump imposes $100,000 fee per year for H-1B foreign worker visas

    President Trump imposes $100,000 fee per year for H-1B foreign worker visas

    Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an order imposing an annual fee of USD 100,000 for H-1B visas, a measure that could significantly affect Indian professionals and US companies dependent on foreign talent.

    White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf said the H-1B program has been “one of the most abused visa systems” in the country’s immigration framework. The visa is intended to allow highly skilled workers to fill roles in industries facing shortages of American workers.

    The Trump administration said the sharp increase is aimed at ensuring only “highly skilled” individuals enter the US job market, while preventing the displacement of American workers. The order, it said, would allow companies to continue hiring “truly extraordinary people” but at a much higher cost.

    Under the new rule, employers will have to bear the cost of sponsoring H-1B applicants, raising concerns over higher operational expenses for companies in technology and other industries that rely heavily on skilled foreign workers.

  • UK and France introduce ‘one-in, one-out’ policy, Know full details

    UK and France introduce ‘one-in, one-out’ policy, Know full details

    London: The UK and France have rolled out a new migration policy called ‘one-in, one-out’ to tackle illegal crossings of the English Channel. Under this system, each person deported from the UK for entering illegally will be matched by the admission of a refugee through legal channels in France.

    The first deportation under this scheme involved an Indian national who arrived in the UK on a small boat in early August. He was flown from Heathrow Airport to France last week as part of the pilot initiative.

    UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the policy sends a clear message that illegal entry will not be tolerated, while still providing safe and legal routes for genuine refugees.

    The policy is designed to reduce strain on the UK’s asylum system and limit the use of temporary accommodations such as hotels. Only migrants who are screened and approved through legal procedures will be allowed entry under the scheme.

    The pilot program, which started in August and is scheduled to run until June 2026, is expected to see further deportations in the coming months. The Home Office emphasized its commitment to ensuring deportations are carried out efficiently, noting that tens of thousands of people without legal status were removed last year, including both foreign offenders and asylum-related cases.

    The ‘one-in, one-out’ approach represents a coordinated effort between the UK and France to manage migration while balancing enforcement with legal avenues for refugees.

  • Indian student from Telangana shot dead by US police, father appeals for body’s return

    Indian student from Telangana shot dead by US police, father appeals for body’s return

    Hyderabad: An Indian student from Telangana’s Mahabubnagar district, Mohammad Nizamuddin, was shot dead by police in the US after he allegedly attacked his roommate with a knife.

    The incident took place in California on September 3, though the family was informed nearly two weeks later. Police have not officially confirmed whether it was an encounter.

    Nizamuddin’s father, Mohammad Husnuddin, has appealed to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to help bring his son’s body back to India. The family has also alleged that Nizamuddin was harassed abroad.

    Nizamuddin had gone to the US in 2016 to pursue higher studies in Florida. After completing his MS, he secured a job as a software professional and later moved to California following a promotion.

  • Harassed by school staff, student dies after consuming pesticide in Bathinda

    Harassed by school staff, student dies after consuming pesticide in Bathinda

    Bathinda: A student who had consumed pesticide 25 days ago succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Friday. He had been undergoing treatment at multiple hospitals and was on artificial respiration since September 17, after doctors at AIIMS Bathinda advised the family to take him home. He breathed his last at around 3 am.

    The victim, Jashandeep, had reportedly taken the extreme step after being allegedly harassed by his school principal and teachers. Following his death, the family staged a protest by blocking the Moga-Jalandhar highway, accusing the police of inaction.

    Dharamkot DSP Jaswinder Singh reached the spot and assured the family of justice. Baljit Singh, state president of the All India Rai Sikh Foundation, also joined the protest along with his colleagues.

    Police have registered a case against school principal Surinderpal Singh and five teachers — Hardeep Singh, Kalu Ram, Nelson Kaura, Jyoti, and Rajinder Kaur. After the FIR was lodged, the family agreed to conduct the post-mortem.

  • Dream of Foreign Education to Become Reality—Punjab Government to Provide Fees, Visa, Ticket and Annual Allowance of ₹13.17 Lakh

    Dream of Foreign Education to Become Reality—Punjab Government to Provide Fees, Visa, Ticket and Annual Allowance of ₹13.17 Lakh

    Historic step by Punjab Government for SC students in the field of education: Dr. Baljit Kaur

    Punjab E News (Pawan Kumar):  Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is continuously taking historic steps in the field of education for Scheduled Caste students.

    During a press conference held at Punjab Bhawan, Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur shared information about the major initiatives of the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities.

    Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme – 35% Historic Increase

    Dr. Baljit Kaur said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has freed the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme from years of disputes and irregularities. Strict action has been taken against those misusing funds, and now every rupee is being directly spent on the education of needy students.

    In 2022, 1,76,842 students availed the scheme. Today this number has increased to 2,37,456 — a 35% rise in just three years. During the previous five years of governance, only 3.71 lakh students received scholarships, whereas in the current three years, 6.78 lakh students have already benefitted.

    For the year 2025-26, the target has been set at 2.70 lakh students. Extensive awareness campaigns are being run in schools and colleges to ensure that no eligible student is left out.

    Additionally, under the Top Class Education in Colleges for OBC, EBC and DNT scheme, students with a family income below ₹2.5 lakh studying in 11 premier institutions including AIIMS Bathinda, IIT Ropar, NIT Jalandhar, IIM Amritsar, NIPER Mohali, NIT Mohali, ISI Chandigarh, Thapar College Patiala, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law Patiala, IISER Mohali and IHM Gurdaspur will also be given scholarships.

    Foreign Scholarship Scheme – Golden Opportunity for Talented Youth

    Dr. Baljit Kaur announced that the government has launched a transformative foreign scholarship scheme for SC students and children of landless farm laborers. Eligible students (below 35 years of age, minimum 60% marks, parental annual income less than ₹8 lakh) will now be able to study in the world’s top 500 universities.

    The government will provide visa, airfare, tuition fees, annual maintenance allowance (₹13.17 lakh), emergency allowance (₹1.35 lakh), and medical insurance.

    A 30% reservation for female students will ensure equal opportunity. A maximum of two children per family can benefit, though each student can avail this scheme only once.

    She further informed that the NOS portal (https://nosmsje.gov.in) will remain open for online applications for the academic session 2025-26 from September 15 to October 24, 2025.

    “This scheme will open new doors of opportunity for Punjab’s talented youth, and now parents will no longer have to mortgage their property to send their children abroad,” she said.

    PCS Crash Course at Ambedkar Institute

    Dr. Baljit Kaur also announced that a two-month PCS crash course is being launched at Ambedkar Institute, Mohali, to prepare SC, BC and minority students for civil services.

    Applications will remain open from September 17 to 26 (offline and via email). On September 30, 40 eligible candidates will be selected through an entrance test.

    The institute has been upgraded with an expenditure of ₹1.47 crore, and an additional investment of ₹1.22 crore is being made. Professors’ honorarium has been increased from ₹750 to ₹1,500 per hour to attract eminent scholars as trainers.

    Commitment of Punjab Government

    On this occasion, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is continuously working for the upliftment of SC, BC and economically weaker sections of society.

    “Our goal is to make higher education accessible, affordable and attractive for every eligible child in Punjab. Only through education can we socially and economically empower our students,” she said.

  • US rejects visa of Indian businessmen

    US rejects visa of Indian businessmen

    NEW DELHI: The US Embassy in New Delhi has revoked the visas of several Indian business executives and corporate leaders, citing their involvement in smuggling fentanyl precursors. The embassy said those individuals have also been denied fresh visas.

    Fentanyl precursors are chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that has become a leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States.

    Although the embassy did not disclose the names of those affected, a spokesperson confirmed that they were Indian nationals. The statement added that Indian government officials are working closely with US counterparts to combat drug trafficking.

    US President Donald Trump has previously accused countries such as China, Mexico and Canada of facilitating the supply of fentanyl into the United States, and imposed additional tariffs on their imports. Trump’s punitive 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports have also strained bilateral relations.

    In a recent statement to the US Congress, Trump included India on the list of 23 major drug trafficking or illicit drug producing countries. However, he noted that inclusion on the list does not necessarily reflect the government’s anti-drug enforcement efforts.

  • Fake Pakistani football team reaches Japan, deported

    Fake Pakistani football team reaches Japan, deported

    Islamabad: Japanese authorities have deported 22 Pakistanis who arrived in Tokyo posing as a football team with forged documents. An investigation revealed they were not linked to any club and were attempting to enter the country illegally.

    Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said the racket was run by Malik Waqas, who created a fake club named Golden Football Trial and charged ₹40 lakh per person. Waqas admitted to sending 17 people to Japan the same way in January.

    Authorities said forged documents from the Pakistan Football Federation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also used in the scam.

  • US woman murdered in Ludhiana by contract killer hired by would-be groom

    US woman murdered in Ludhiana by contract killer hired by would-be groom

    Ludhiana: A 72-year-old NRI woman from Seattle was allegedly murdered and her body burnt at a house in Qila Raipur village nearly two months ago, police revealed on Tuesday.

    Police have identified the main accused as Sukhjit Singh Sonu, a resident of Malla Patti Fort Raipur, who has confessed to the murder.

    He allegedly carried out the crime as part of a conspiracy hatched by Charanjit Singh Grewal of Mahima Singh Wala village. Sonu was promised ₹50 lakh in cash for killing Rupinder Kaur Pandher.

    Kamal Kaur Khaira, sister of the deceased, has demanded that Grewal be arrested immediately and Rupinder Kaur’s body be recovered.

    On August 18, Sonu had lodged a complaint with Dehlon police, claiming unidentified persons abducted Rupinder Kaur, who had been living at his house for the past two to three months. However, a report submitted by SHO Sukhwinder Singh revealed that Sonu himself committed the murder at Grewal’s behest and burnt the body inside a store.

    Kamal Kaur had earlier approached the US Embassy on July 28, after her sister’s phone was found switched off. She later received information from a family friend that Rupinder had been murdered and Sonu detained by Dehlon police.

    She also alleged that Grewal had promised to marry Rupinder Kaur and called her to Qila Raipur, while Rupinder had transferred large sums of money to the accounts of Sonu and Grewal.

    According to the report, police have recovered crucial evidence from Sonu’s house.