World

US Visa Fee Hike And Its Impact For Families, Employers, Investor Applicants

Published

4 weeks ago

April 4, 2024

In a new development which will have far reaching implications for Indians, the U.S. has hiked Visa fees by a huge margin and it will come into effect from April. The visa fees hike will impact everyone from those who seek employment in the US like IT professionals, employers, sponsors, US citizens who seek to bring their relatives to the US and also high profile investors who want to do business in the US. The move has evoked sharp criticism by experts who have contended that there is a paucity of resources needed to address the increasing humanitarian workload and efforts to reduce backlogs.

The changes in the visa fees is as follows-

70% hike for H-1B visa petitions being sponsored by employers. Also the H-1B electronic registration fee will rise from $10 to $215.
L-1 visa fees hiked by 201% and O-1 visa hiked by 129%,
The initial EB-5 investment-linked green card visa fee has been hiked by $3,675 (over Rs 3, 00,000) to $11,160 (over Rs 9, 00,000)
Provision of a new Asylum Program fee of $600 which will be applicable for specific worker and immigrant petition

The visa fees hike for H1-B, L-1, and EB-5 categories will affect the Indians most because these three visas are the most common which is applied by Indians. This has been the most significant hike since 2016 and the hike as per US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) , which comes under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will help recover the costs and help in speedy increase processing of applications.

Fallout On Families And Spouses

The I-130 form fees have been hiked by 26% to $675 and it will impact those families which seek reunification including marriage which will enable spouses to migrate to the US. If a green card holder applies for an I-130 visa seeking to enable a relationship with an eligible relative who seeks to permanently settle in the US and seek a green card the fee stands at $1,440 as compared to earlier $1,225. Also if the person seeks to bring his fiancée to the US via Form I-129F, the fee has been hiked from $535 to $675, an increase of 26%.

Even if the couple goes for an out of country marriage the petitioner would need to file Form I-130 for their spouse to immigrate. The Form I-130 carries fees of $675; therefore, out-of-country marriage would not result in significant cost savings.

Also the process of applying for American Citizenship has also become very expensive but the fees for the online application for naturalization with biometric services has seen a decline from $725 to $710.

The most notable increase is seen in the EB-5 – the investment-linked green card visa program has been hiked almost three times from $3,675 (over Rs 300,000) to $11,160 (over Rs 900,000) for their initial I-829 application. This increase will significantly impact the wealthy Indians who seek to invest in the US for residency purposes.

The EB-5 program will require the applicant to go through a consulate interview. They must also possess a conditional green card valid for two years and for a permanent green card, the applicant will have to go through an application process. The EB-5 program came into existence in 1990 and was aimed to bring in high value foreign investments and applicants will have to invest a minimum of $5,00,000 in a US business and get a visa to stay in the US.

Fallout On IT Professionals

This is a hike which will affect most of the Indians who seek a job in the IT sector in the US. H-1B visa was originally meant to suck in highly qualified Professionals in India who had passed out from premium Institutes such as IIT or IIM. It was a big source to attract highly trained professionals which will serve to dill in the requirements of the IT sector. Thousands of highly trained professionals apply for HI visas for better employment opportunities in the US. The H-1B visa has been increased from $460 (over Rs 38,000) to $780 (over Rs 64,000), with the registration fee also increasing from $10 (Rs 829) to $215 (over Rs 17,000) – an increase of 2,000%.

USCIS has contended that the increased fees will boost revenue and help improve customer experience and backlog.

USCIS director Ur M Jaddou said “It is for the first time in over seven years, USCIS is updating our fees to better meet the needs of our agency, enabling us to provide more timely decisions to those we serve”.

The hike in Visa fees has been severely criticized by many experts. One of the main critics has been the IT sector and the music industry which is dependent on overseas employees and the latest visa hike will affect this sector the most.

Also Read: Who Is Savion Johnson? Texas National Guard Member Arrested For Migrant Smuggling

Viral

Chicago Rat Hole Landmark Removed by City Department and Mayor’s Office

Published

3 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Shreshtha Banerjee

The Chicago Rat Hole Landmark Removed By The City Department and Mayor's Office

On the sidewalks of a Chicago road, there was a space that resembled a rat with a tail; even the crimps and minute deviations in the nails were visible.

Residents started referring to this peculiar landmark as a “rat hole” rather than a pothole. People began throwing coins around it, and the small defect turned into an attraction for both locals and tourists in Chicago.

Never forget the Chicago Rat Hole. pic.twitter.com/S07bgHC6zg— QENNY DOT (@AKBrews) April 26, 2024

Visitors often threw coins, took pictures, and created a commotion in the area. Some residents complained to the mayor about the disturbance caused by tourists and onlookers.

The removal of the rat hole was a collaborative decision between city departments and the mayor’s office. Eventually, the mayor announced that it would be fixed since it was considered a defect.

I see you, Chicago Rat Hole… https://t.co/4uznC1xnon pic.twitter.com/4nlLndPZva— Riot Fest (@RiotFest) April 25, 2024

Paul Sajovec commented,

“It was just a combination of the fact that the sidewalk was uneven and also that people would show up at various times of the day and night and make a lot of noise and create other issues and problems.”

Also Read: What Is The Meaning Behind 241553903, Why Google Shows A Head In A Freezer?

In January, people even pursued an imprint of the rat in the walkway. The rat hole had gained immense popularity over the past few days, but it was time to say farewell. The rat had touched the hearts of many; it was well-loved, but now it will be fixed and will disappear from the heart of the sidewalk.

World

Coon Rapids Shooting: One Casualty Reported, Investigation Continues to Find Suspect

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2024

Subhashree Panda

Coon Rapids Shooting: One Casualty Reported, Investigation Continues to Find Suspect

A shooting incident reportedly occurred at a YMCA in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.

The crime news was first reported by a social media page, Twin Cities Crime Watch & Information. According to the page, the suspects arrived in a red sedan occupied by four Somalis.

Twin Cities Crime Watch & Information posted,

“Coon Rapids – SHOOTING at the YMCA, 8950 Springbrook Dr., occurred inside. Suspects in a red sedan, occupied by four Somalis. Partial plate contains JW*25.”

According to Times Now, a statement was received by the Coon Rapids Police Department where it stated that when police were reported, they responded immediately.

Officers arrived at the scene around 7:58 p.m. on Friday and found one person suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was immediately transported to a local hospital.

The police shared on their Facebook page,

“Friday night the Coon Rapids Police Department was dispatched to the Emma B. Howe YMCA on a report of gunshots. Officers arrived at the scene to find one person struck by gunfire. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. Currently, their condition is unknown.”

‘Shooting Was Not Random’

The police announced that they believe the shooting at the YMCA in Coon Rapids was not random.

Detectives from the Coon Rapids Police Department were present at the scene and actively investigating the matter.

The police have urged the public to provide any information about the incident by calling 763-427-1212.

As of now, no information is available regarding the person responsible for the shooting, and the circumstances surrounding the incident are still unknown.

Update

The police have revealed the identity of the victim. According to CBS News, the victim is a 16-year-old male.

The YMCA will be under lockdown on Saturday and Sunday, with regular scheduling expected to resume on Monday.

Also Read: Fairfield Mall Shooting Update: Suspects Caught, Huge Vehicles Found in Beavercreek

World

Sachin Sahoo: Bipolar Indian-Origin Man Shot Dead By US Police

Published

2 days ago

April 27, 2024

Subhashree Panda

On April 21, Sachin Sahoo, an Indian-origin man, was shot by a San Antonio police officer. According to the Deccan Herald, when the officers attempted to apprehend Sachin, he struck two officers with his vehicle.

Sachin Sahoo was being pursued in connection with an aggravated assault case.

Originally from Uttar Pradesh, India, Sachin Sahoo was declared dead at the scene.

Sources from PTI claimed that Sachin Sahoo might have been a naturalized U.S. citizen. As per the preliminary investigation, on April 21, just before 6:30 PM, officers were called to a home in Cheviot Heights, San Antonio.

They were responding to a report of an ‘Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.’

Upon arrival, the officers discovered a 51-year-old woman who had been deliberately hit by Sachin Sahoo’s vehicle.

After hitting the woman, Sachin Sahoo fled the scene.

The 51-year-old victim was transported to a nearby hospital and was in critical condition.

Consequently, a felony arrest warrant was issued in the name of Sahoo by the San Antonio Police Detectives.

Later that evening, neighbors informed the police that Sahoo had returned to his original location.

When two officers arrived at the scene and attempted to make contact, Sachin struck both with his vehicle. One of them shot Sahoo, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

One officer was treated at the scene, while the other was taken to a local hospital.

Police Chief Bill McManus stated that Sachin’s actions also left his roommate in critical condition. The woman underwent multiple surgeries.

According to Outlook India, when officers approached to arrest Sachin, he “got into his car and managed to squeeze through the police vehicles blocking his driveway.” In the process, he also hit the officers.

Subsequently, another officer stopped Sachin by firing at him.

About Sachin Sahoo

Leah Goldstein, Sahoo’s ex-wife, revealed that her ex-husband had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and also exhibited symptoms of schizophrenia.

She added, ‘He has suffered for the past ten years with bipolar disorder. He also had symptoms of schizophrenia. He couldn’t understand what was wrong with him.’

In a news report, she said, ‘He would hear voices, hallucinate, and just get stuck in his own mind.’”