India raises with US issues of students, travellers; MEA on new visa rule, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced a new rule to limit the duration of visas for foreign students, journalists, and cultural exchange visitors.
• This rule replaced the previous "duration of status" system with fixed time periods for F visas (students), J visas (cultural exchange visitors), and I visas (journalists).
• Under the new regulations, student and exchange visa periods were capped at a maximum of four years.
• I visas for journalists were limited to 240 days for most nationalities, with Chinese journalists facing a 90-day limit.
• India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated it was engaging with U.S. authorities to address difficulties faced by Indian students and travelers due to these changes.

Detailed Insights:

• The new rule, published around July 2020, was set to become effective 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register, pending Congressional review.
• Previously, F, J, and I visa holders could remain in the U.S. as long as they met their visa program's eligibility requirements, without a specific end date.
• The DHS justified the change by citing national security concerns and a need to combat immigration fraud and better monitor visa holders.
• Students requiring more time to complete their programs would need to apply for an extension through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), involving additional background checks and biometric screening.
• The grace period for F-1 visa students to depart the U.S. or change their status after completing their studies was reduced from 60 days to 30 days.
• The new policy was expected to impact over a million international students, including a significant number of Indian nationals.

Key Concepts Involved:

• F visa: A non-immigrant visa for international students pursuing academic or language training programs in the U.S.
• J visa: An exchange visitor visa for individuals participating in cultural and educational exchange programs in the U.S.
• I visa: A non-immigrant visa for representatives of foreign media, including journalists, to work in the U.S.
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS): A U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, including immigration and border control.
• Federal Register: The official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of U.S. federal agencies and organizations.
• Congressional review: A process by which the U.S. Congress can review and potentially overturn new federal agency rules.