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The US State Department has quietly implemented recommendations of a presidential commission which has suggested steps like opening up American diplomatic missions outside India for visa appointments to reduce the visa backlog in the country. India was one of the very few countries where applications for US visas saw a major upswing after coronavirus-related travel restrictions were lifted. Moved by a commission member, Ajay Jain Bhutoria from Silicon Valley, the presidential commission observed that inordinate visa appointment delays were causing huge problems for the students and visitors who have plans to come to study in the US and visit the country. The State Department should allow virtual interviews where applicable and allow staff from embassies around the world and the US consular staff to help conduct the virtual interviews at embassies with high backlogs and help clear them, the commission recommended. The recommendations included opening up American diplomatic missions outside India for visa appointments, having more counters and deploying additional resources to process visa applications. The <keyword id="50596" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-embassy" source="Orion">US Embassy</keyword> in India processed over 1 lakh applications just in January 2023, their highest total in a single month and the highest in any month since July 2019. In its December meeting, the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders recommended several steps to reduce the growing delay in visa appointment times in India and other countries like Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. It recommended the State Department hire new Full-Time officers/consular or Temporary Staff or contractors or bring back retired consular officers to clear the backlog at Embassies in Asia which have wait times of 400 or more days and shrink the wait time to 2-4 weeks be clearing the visa application backlog. The State Department could also use staff from other embassies around the world to help clear the backlog in countries in Asia which have huge backlogs and delays in visa appointments, it had recommended. The advisory committee noted that in 2012 President Barack Obama issued a memo to reduce the wait time from several months to a few days and this memo streamlined the visa process. The Trump administration had rescinded the President Obama memo, and this is also contributing as one of the factors in causing delays for Visa appointments, it said. As such, it recommended that President Joe Biden should consider issuing a memo to the State Department to shrink the visa appointment wait times to 2-4 weeks maximum for countries with significant backlogs including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other countries in a similar situation. There have been growing concerns in India over the long waiting period for first-time visa applicants, especially for those applying under B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) categories. The waiting period for first-time B1/B2 visa applicants in India was close to three years in October last year. In January, the State Department not only implemented remote processing of interview waiver cases for applicants with previous US visas but also launched several initiatives, including scheduling special interviews for first-time applicants and increasing the strength of consular staff. It also conducted "special Saturday interview days" on January 21. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/google-unleashes-ai-powered-updates-to-revamp-user-experience-on-maps-search-and-translate/articleshow/97761551.cms">Google unleashes AI-powered updates to revamp user experience on Maps, Search and Translate</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/now-find-ev-charging-stations-in-google-maps-near-you/articleshow/97759525.cms">Now find EV charging stations in Google Maps near you</a>

US State Department implements several recommendations of presidential commission to reduce visa backlog in India

<ul><li>It would get easier for Indians to get US citizenship if the country cap in green cards is removed, said an annual Congressional report. </li><li>Nearly 78% of the 395,025 foreign nationals waiting for Green Cards in employment-based LPR applications are Indians. </li><li>Indians have to wait for an average period of nine years to get a green card that allows any person to live or work permanently in the US. </li></ul>Thousands of Indian struggling to get American citizenship would benefit if the US government considers revising or eliminating the per-country ceiling on employment-based Legal Permanent Residency (LPR), <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visa-and-immigration/ending-country-cap-in-green-cards-may-allow-india-china-to-dominate-path-to-us-citizenship-report/articleshow/67346383.cms">according</a> to a Congressional report. A US ‘Green Card’ that grant a permanent residency status to foreigners gives any person the right to live and work permanently in the US. Nearly 78% of the 395,025 foreign nationals waiting for Green Cards in employment-based LPR applications are Indians with the majority of them to go through the current wait period of almost a decade. Further, the waiting period is relative in nature and may increase or decrease depending on the number of applications received annually, said the report. Eliminating the <keyword id="4823453" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="country-quota">country quota</keyword> will not only make LPR process easy but also benefit the IT service industry that finds it difficult to employ Indian techies. “Currently, nationals from <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> in particular, and to a lesser extent <keyword id="1334" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> and the Philippines, face lengthy queues and inordinately long waits to receive LPR status. Many of those waiting for employment-based LPR status are already employed in the United States on temporary visas,’’ said the<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/download/R/R45447/R45447.pdf/"> report. </a> If the lawmakers consider eliminating the country cap then nationals from India, China and the Philippines will not have to wait much long time. Many proposals were made to remove the per-country ceiling cap in past years but none have been incorporated. The US government awards 140,000 visas every year for all five employment-based LPR categories. Further, it also imposes per-country ceiling of maximum seven percent on each country that is sending immigrants. While the many may think it is tough to get the citizenship, In 2017, over 50,000 Indians took oath of American citizenship, said Economic Times <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visa-and-immigration/50000-indians-took-us-citizenship-in-2017-official-report/articleshow/66279970.cms">citing</a> an official report. See more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/more-indians-flew-overseas-than-on-domestic-routes-in-november-report/articleshow/67347965.cms">More Indians flew overseas than on domestic routes in November: Report</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/policy/myanmar-introduces-visa-on-arrival-for-indian-travellers/articleshow/67056366.cms">Myanmar introduces ‘visa-on-arrival’ for Indian travellers</a>

Eliminating country quotas will make path to the permanent residency easier for Indians: US Congressional report

<keyword id="1219822" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Indian-Premier-League">The Indian Premier League</keyword> franchises are ready to quarantine their foreign players for a period of 14 days if the travel advisories issued by the government calls for the same amid the ongoing <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> outbreak. But first, they are waiting for the authorities to clear the ground for issuance of visa to them. As of now, the government has prohibited entry of people from specific countries and regions till March 31. The government on Monday issued an advisory expanding compulsory quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days for passengers coming from/transiting through UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait. It further prohibited travel of passengers from member countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and United Kingdom to India with effect from March 18. On Tuesday, the government further said that travel of passengers from Afghanistan, Philippines, Malaysia to India is prohibited with immediate effect. These instructions are a temporary measure and shall be in force till March 31 and will be reviewed subsequently. Speaking to IANS, an official of one of the franchises said that the teams were ready for a scenario wherein foreign players will need to be quarantined for a 14-day period once permitted to fly into the country. "Yes, the fresh advisory calls for 14-day quarantine for travel from some countries and if the stance remains the same post March 31, that shouldn't be an issue. If we get a clearance from the government and visas are issued, then quarantining the players shouldn't be a big deal. In such a scenario, we can fly them into the country in the first week of April and follow the process of 14-day quarantine. "But first, the foreign players need to be given the visa and that is why we need to wait till March 31 to see what the government decides going forward." An <keyword id="6354312" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> official who was present in the conference call on Monday further said that while there was no decision made with regards to the fate of the tournament, it was decided that meetings will happen every week and also that foreign players will need a 5-day break before they can start playing matches. "No decision was made and to be honest, the idea wasn't to take a call. It was aimed more towards understanding the general scenario and how the coronavirus outbreak is impacting the world. It was more about taking stock of the situation. But, one thing that we did discuss was that foreign players will need a 5-day window to acclimatise once they arrive in India. "But before that, we need to understand if and when the government will relax the travel advisory and foreign players will indeed be allowed to come in. Unless the government issues fresh advisory, it will be impossible to gauge when the foreign players will come in and when we can start the tournament. "At present, we need to keep our fingers crossed and hope that the situation improves and the health and sports departments give the necessary go-ahead to organise the tournament with foreign players," the official told IANS. The <keyword id="6355249" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="sports-ministry">Sports Ministry</keyword> on March 12 made it clear that all sporting events should be cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. And if it is unavoidable, the events should be held behind closed doors so as to avoid mass gatherings. The Delhi government went a step further and said that there would be no IPL matches in the national capital till March 31.

IPL teams ready to quarantine foreign players if necessary

<ul><li>According to the the United States Citizenship and <keyword id="50403" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Immigration">Immigration</keyword> Services, 74.2% and 75.6% of H1B visas in 2016 and 2017, respectively, went to Indians. </li><li>However, there was a reduction in the number of new beneficiaries of the program from India. </li><li>Demand for the <keyword id="6358043" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="H1B-visa">H1B visa</keyword> is higher than ever, but <keyword id="6354185" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="IT">it</keyword> could soon be a casualty of the <keyword id="6354862" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="trump">Trump</keyword> administration’s “Buy American and Hire American” mandate. </li></ul>As the Trump administration’s cracks down on the H1B visa system, a recent report from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirms that most of the beneficiaries of the programme in the last two years were Indians. According to <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/nativedocuments/Characteristics_of_H-1B_Specialty_Occupation_Workers_FY17.pdf">data from the USCIS,</a> Indians accounted for 74.2% of all the 345, 262 H1B visas that were approved in 2016 and 75.6% of the 365,682 visas approved in 2017. Next on the list was China, whose citizens accounted for less than 9.5% of all H1B visas in both the years. The report did, however, show a reduction in the number of new beneficiaries of the program from India. The number of Indians approved for their first H1B visas fell from 70,737 in 2016 to 67,815 last year. Infact, Indians accounted for less than 63% of new visas in both years. The increase in the total visas given out to Indians came from renewals, or continuing employment. As the US becomes a less attractive destination for Indian IT talent, other countries could step in to fill the gap. Earlier this year, the Japanese government outlined plans to hire <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visa-and-immigration/japan-to-recruit-2-lakh-indian-it-professionals/articleshow/63220607.cms">200,000 professionals from India</a> to support the expansion of its IT infrastructure. Reports have also indicated that Canada may be becoming the new destination for Indian talent. The H1B visa allows skilled workers from foreign countries to work in the US for a period of three years, pending a renewal after that. The maximum term of employment is capped at six years. It is often used by technology companies to hire engineers and computer programmers. Computer-related occupations comprised nearly 70% of all H1B visas in 2016 and 2017. Demand for the visa is higher than ever. The annual threshold for the visa was reached <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/h-1b-visa-applications-hit-cap-just-five-days-despite-trump-crackdown-881467">within just five days</a> last month. But, the H1B visa system could soon be a casualty of the Trump administration’s “Buy American and Hire American” mandate, and the effect of this will be borne disproportionately by Indians. In February this year, President Trump tightened requirements of proof for H1B visa-holders employed <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Politics/x2nWYRZipUuWH4gh5rITMN/H1B-visa-approvals-get-tougher-Indian-IT-firms-likely-to-b.html">at third-party worksites </a>- a move that is expected to significantly affect the hiring practices of Indian IT companies in the US. The order also makes the visa of an employee valid for the duration of the time he or she is employed at the third-party worksite, not for the regular duration of three years. The Trump government is also mulling a policy that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Spouses-of-H-1B-visa-holders-may-lose-work-permits-in-the-US/articleshow/63898572.cms">disallows the spouses of H1B visa-holders</a> from seeking employment. The obvious way to avoid the crackdown is to graduate from the H1B category to a <keyword id="137302" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Green-Card">green card</keyword>. However, this isn’t easy - at least not for Indians. Because of their large numbers, they reportedly have to wait for as long <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visa-and-immigration/indians-applying-for-green-card-have-12-year-waiting-list/articleshow/59543350.cms">as 12 years</a> for the permanent residency provided by a green card, a process that usually takes two years.

Indians accounted for 75% of all H1B visas in the US in the last two years

"Drastic" and "damaging" is how a top US immigration attorney is describing <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword>'s latest executive order, which takes a sledgehammer to the entry of immigrants "who present risk to the US labour market" and goes into effect from midnight on April 23. The executive order does not apply to H1B workers in the <keyword id="6356955" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-states">United States</keyword>. The executive order applies to three categories of "aliens". It bans those who are outside the United States on the effective date of the order, which means 11:59 pm on April 23, those who do not have an immigrant visa that is valid on the effective date and those who do not have an official travel document other than a visa, such as an advance parole document. With consulates closed, almost all visa processing by the State Department has been suspended for weeks anyway. "If you have been sponsored for a green card through a family member, you're now going to be banned for 60 days, unless you are a spouse or minor child of a US citizen," Cyrus Mehta, New York based US immigration attorney, told IANS. "If you are the spouse or minor child of a green card holder, you're banned. If you are the adult son or daughter of a US citizen or adult single son or daughter of a green card holder, you're banned. If you are the sibling of a US citizen, and you waited 10 plus years to come in and you are still waiting for a visa interview at a consular post, you're now banned." Called "Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the US Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19 Outbreak," Trump's latest executive order with a 16 word headline comes with a 60 day sunset clause, for now. Trump said his decision is essential to help Americans get back to work in an economy ripped apart by the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword>. "This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens," Trump said. "If you read the fine print, on day 50 of the 60 day period, the President can once again make an assessment and decide whether to continue with it," Mehta explained. The few exemptions that exist now are for spouses and minor children of US citizens, people coming on an immigrant visa as a physician, nurse or other health care professional to perform medical research related to COVID-19. The order also exempts people approved under the EB5 immigrant investor program who have invested more than a million dollars to get a foothold in the US. "On the other hand, the spouse of a green card holder or parent of a US citizen has been banned," says Mehta. He says Trump's use of authority under Section 212F of the Immigration Act is a standout case in American history. "There's a lot of fear and panic," Mehta says, among the immigrant community over the last three years and it's just spiralled in the last few days since Trump signalled that he will be clamping down further. "That hostility can be felt. Not just by immigrants, but even by employers or employees," Mehta said. The executive order frames America's problem as a "labor market supply" issue. "Existing immigrant visa processing protections are inadequate for recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak," the order reads. Trump ran in 2016 on promising to crack down on immigration, making the case that foreign workers compete with Americans for jobs and drive down wages. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/data-of-coronavirus-patients-state-wise-in-india/articleshow/74669748.cms">Coronavirus cases in India state wise</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/topic/coronavirus">Coronavirus News and Updates</a>

Trump's executive order suspending entry of immigrants is 'drastic and damaging', says US immigration attorney

<ul class="summary-list"><li>An <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/more-than-184000-indians-applied-for-h1b-visa-for-fy20-21/articleshow/74938489.cms">H-1B visa</a> is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to employ highly skilled workers from other countries.</li><li>Congress allows <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/">U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)</a> to issue up to 65,000 <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-dod-cooperative-research-and-development-project-workers-and-fashion-models">H-1B work visas</a> to highly skilled foreign workers each year. It can issue an additional 20,000 H-1B visas to workers who obtained a graduate degree in the U.S.</li><li>Because more people apply than can be accepted, the visas are run through a <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-and-fashion-models/h-1b-fiscal-year-fy-2021-cap-season">lottery system</a>.</li><li>If you get laid off on an H-1B visa, you have several options: Find a new employer to sponsor your <keyword id="395013" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="H1-B">H1-B</keyword> visa; get a spousal support visa; apply to change your status to a student or tourist visa; or leave the U.S.</li><li>Your visa status will expire 60 days after termination.</li></ul>In April, the unemployment rate in the U.S. jumped to 14.7% — the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/april-jobs-report-unemployment-rate-payrolls-record-us-economy-coronavirus-2020-5">highest</a> it's been since the Great Depression. The April <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chart-showing-employment-declines-over-past-recessions-2020-5">jobs report</a> shows that more than 20 million jobs were lost in a single month.While a sudden loss of employment is cause for concern for anyone, it comes with an additional concern for foreign workers who are in the U.S. on an H-1B visa.That's because foreign workers facing unemployment have 60 days from termination to come up with a formal reason for staying in the U.S. That reason must be accepted by the U.S. government, or the foreign worker will have to leave the country. <a href="https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-coronavirus-will-kick-legal-immigrants-out-of-line-and-out-of-the-country/">Jeremy Neufeld, an immigration policy analyst with the Washington, DC, think tank Niskanen Center estimated in a recent article that</a> more than 200,000 foreign workers on H-1B visas could lose their legal status by the end of June. This could include employed foreign workers who have to renew their visas in June.If you've recently lost your job in the U.S. and are on an H-1B visa, here are your options. <h2>1. Talk to an <keyword id="50403" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Immigration">immigration</keyword> attorney </h2>The first thing a foreign worker with an H-1B visa should do after getting laid off is consult with an immigration lawyer.Business Insider spoke to three experts — Karla M. McKanders, a clinical law professor at Vanderbilt University; <a href="https://law.stanford.edu/directory/lucas-guttentag/">Lucas Guttentag</a>, a law professor at Stanford and Yale; and <a href="https://www.roseimmigration.com/">Linda Rose, a practicing immigration lawyer</a> — and all three agreed on that step. Rose stressed the importance of consulting with the right type of attorney."We strongly recommend the individual consult with a knowledgeable attorney," Rose said. "Not all immigration attorneys practice business immigration."Suggested resource: <a href="https://www.aila.org/">The American Immigrant Lawyers Association (AILA)</a> is an organization of attorneys and law professors who represent foreign students, workers, asylum seekers, usually on a volunteer basis.<h2>2. Try to find a new employer</h2>Another option for those who have been recently laid off is to find a new employer.To continue working in the U.S., those on an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/-coronavirus-pressure-laid-off-foreign-workers-2020-5">H-1B visa</a> must find another employer who is willing to sponsor their H-1B visa.Suggested resource: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (<keyword id="137642" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="USCIS">USCIS</keyword>) has an <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/h-1b-data-hub">H-1B Employer Data Hub</a>. Those looking for an H1-B sponsor can use this tool to find out which employers have sponsored foreign workers on an H-1B between 2009 and 2020. <h2>3. Change your visa status in the allotted 60-day time period</h2><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/visit-united-states/change-my-nonimmigrant-status">To change your visa status</a> is to formally change your reason for being in the U.S. This formal change has to be approved by the U.S. government and it has to happen within the 60-day period that starts directly after termination. Even outside a pandemic, it's a difficult process in America, McKanders, the Vanderbilt professor, told Business Insider."Someone who is in the United States seeking to change their visa status during the pandemic ... will have a hard time navigating through this process," McKanders told Business Insider. "The law during the pandemic is complex and constantly in flux."Start your visa application process by filing an application with <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/forms/file-online">USCIS</a>.From there, applicants typically go through several more steps, including fingerprinting, interviews, background checks, and sometimes <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/AFM/HTML/AFM/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-1067/0-0-0-1318.html">requests for more information</a>.Guttentag, who founded and ran the American Civil Liberties Union Immigrants' Rights Project for almost three decades, told Business Insider than under normal circumstances, reported cycle times for changing one's visa status range from three to 12 months.The <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-covid-19">USCIS suspended all in-person interviews and fingerprinting on March 18</a>. The offices are scheduled to reopen on June 4, and online filing is always recommended for submitting forms.<h2 style="font-weight: 400;">3a. Alternate visa options to consider include a visitor visa and a student visa</h2>While there are multiple <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/all-visa-categories.html">visa categories</a>, most foreign workers are likely to be eligible for the following types of visas. The first option is a B-1/B-2 visa, which is a visitor visa, Rose told Business Insider.B-1 visas are meant for those visiting the U.S. for business purposes. B-2 visas are meant for tourists. The other option for foreign workers is to try applying for a student (F-1) visa, Rose told Business Insider. However, timing is critical. The <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html">U.S. Department of State</a> recommends applying for your F-1 visa early because interview wait times vary depending on your location, and amid the pandemic, all interviews are suspended until June 4 at the earliest.<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/08/business/china-us-coronavirus-workers-intl-hnk/index.html">Tang Chen, a foreign worker from China who was recently laid off, told CNN</a> that she has been applying to colleges to get an F-1 visa so she can legally stay in the U.S.<h2>4. Apply for a spousal support visa</h2>A spousal support visa allows one to continue to work in the U.S. as long as their spouse remains employed.A recently laid-off startup employee previously told <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/-coronavirus-pressure-laid-off-foreign-workers-2020-5">Business Insider</a> that his wife was only authorized to work in the United States under a spousal support visa linked to his continued employment, forcing her to leave her job if he fails to find one.Suggested Resource: <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/nonimmigrant-visa-for-a-spouse-k-3.html">The U.S. Department of State</a> has an overview of spousal support visas, including information about who is eligible for one and how to apply.Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-do-if-lose-h1b-visa-immigrant-layoffs-resources-2020-5">Business Insider</a>

What to do if you get laid off on an H-1B visa during the coronavirus pandemic

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Maria Romanenko and her British boyfriend fled <keyword id="11985141" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ukraine" source="Orion">Ukraine</keyword> after the Russian invasion.</li><li>She managed to travel to the <keyword id="11897975" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uk" source="Orion">UK</keyword> when she obtained a visa waiver.</li></ul>When my partner Jez woke me up early on February 24 to tell me my country had been bombed, and that we needed to get up, pack, and leave the country, I struggled to believe him.We had left Podil, the hipster district of <keyword id="13017749" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kyiv" source="Orion">Kyiv</keyword> where we lived, the night before and stayed at my father's house, 17 miles outside of the city center, as a precaution. We planned to head west to <keyword id="13431861" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lviv" source="Orion">Lviv</keyword>, stay overnight, then make a dash for the Polish border. My dad is fighting as part of the Territorial Defense Forces. He was always firm that he would defend Ukraine if needed. My brother must stay because no men between 18 and 60 can leave the country. My mum decided to stay with my brother and his wife.<h2>I was reluctant to flee. I didn't want to leave my friends, family, and life behind, but Jez was adamant we should go. </h2>In hindsight, it was the right decision to leave, but you don't always see things clearly when you're so emotionally invested. My father drove us to Lviv. It took us 10 hours, double the usual time. We saw hour-long queues at petrol stations that still had stock, and lines snaking out of supermarkets. We managed to get fuel en route but staff weren't letting anyone buy anything other than gas and water to keep the line moving swiftly. I'm a journalist, and I spent the car ride getting back-to-back requests from other journalists for interviews. I was thankful to be doing them. It kept my mind busy, even when I saw military trucks, which I'd only seen before in parades, heading the other way toward Kyiv.My father dropped us just outside Lviv and we took a taxi to a friend's house. The driver said we were his final trip before he joined the army the next day.Early the next morning, the friend in Lviv offered to drive us to the Polish border. The drive should only take an hour and 15 minutes but took six hours. Ten miles from the border, traffic came to a standstill, and we had to travel 60 miles to find another crossing. We were only let through to the pedestrian crossing because my partner showed a security guard his UK passport.There, we queued another 23 hours in below-freezing temperatures and with no access to food, drink, or a bathroom. Any time anyone could push a few inches closer to the barrier, they did.<div type="image" title="Queue of people standing in line at Polish border" height="3024" width="4032" msid="90361615" hostid="261"></div>The crushing made it hard to breathe, with some people collapsing or fainting. The pushing led to fights, while mothers with young children cried out to be given priority. After finally making it through, and into the welcoming arms of an army of volunteers, I began to think about our next move. I could stay in <keyword id="11937111" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="poland" source="Orion">Poland</keyword> but my partner couldn't. We decided to head for England.<h2>We traveled to the British Embassy in Warsaw </h2>I've visited the UK a few times since I finished my studies there eight years ago, so I was used to applying for the visitor visa I knew I'd need.We traveled from Krakow, where we had been recovering, to visit the British Embassy in Warsaw.Upon arrival, the embassy was busy and had a lot of security in place. We later found out that Boris Johnson was scheduled to arrive for a meeting and a press conference. We spoke with the embassy staff and explained the situation with the visa. They said they would look into it. My boyfriend's MP's office also called the UK's Home Office. It transpired that while the visa had passed the initial checks and been "granted," nobody really knew or could tell us where the physical copy was. The document-tracking system said it needed to be redirected to another center as I was no longer in Kyiv.Perhaps it was in Kyiv, where the center was now closed, or in Lviv, where a skeleton staff remained, I still don't know. At the time, we were informed that it couldn't be reissued and I might have to reapply for a new one, which would have been nearly impossible without key documents I had left behind. Throughout the day, journalists who'd interviewed us were calling the Home Office, asking for an update on our visa for articles they were writing.Late in the afternoon, we received a call from the embassy — the Home Office was prepared to grant a waiver that would allow me to travel without physical proof I had the visa. There is no documentation, just a note on the systems in the UK and with the company we were flying with that I had the waiver. It could only be used on the exact flight from Krakow to Manchester we booked for the next day.<h2>But at check-in, the Ryanair desk agent couldn't find our visa waiver on the system</h2>Our hearts sank. She checked again. Still nothing, despite the embassy's assurances it would be there. Her colleague however had noticed that a waiver was on the system and had simply been missed by the desk agent. A ticket was issued.Upon arrival, we went to the immigration desk to explain I was traveling on a visa waiver.We had to wait for several hours while the UK Border Force confirmed with the Home Office that the visa waiver was legitimate, which we had been told might happen. We were also joined for a period by two suited middle-aged men from the counterterrorism police, and having answered some basic questions about our journey, they were satisfied I wasn't a terrorist.Apparently, they were speaking to every Ukrainian entering the country.We were finally allowed to pass through. My passport is still bare, but I have been told that I can stay until August 25, the standard six months after the visitor visa has been granted. The visa comes with a number of restrictions. I cannot work, or use the NHS, or access benefits.<h2>My lawyer, who was provided for free through a local initiative, hopes we can convert the visitor visa into a family visa</h2>That would let me reside, work, use the NHS, and claim any benefits for three years.For Ukrainians without family here, they have to use the recently announced scheme, which gives Ukrainians the ability to live and work in the UK for an initial period of 12 months, if they can find a sponsor. There are currently no plans to introduce visa-free access to the UK for Ukrainians fleeing the war, a position which is out of step with every other country in mainland Europe.Once I get my visa, I'll look for work as a journalist here, while continuing to volunteer and advocate on behalf of Ukraine and Ukrainians. I'm no fighter, I'd be useless with a gun, but as a writer I can bring the stories of others to wider attention. And one day, soon, I will return to a free Ukraine and a free Kyiv. Putin will be defeated. And I can't wait.

I'm a Ukrainian who fled to the UK. This is what the journey was like, from fighting for a visa to waiting 23 hours at the border.

<ul><li>The cost for studying in the US has gone up by Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh per year.</li><li>Indian students abroad are also facing problems in finding accommodation. </li><li><keyword id="87" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="germany" source="Orion">Germany</keyword>, Spain, France, <keyword id="6359079" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="portugal" source="Orion">Portugal</keyword> and the UAE have emerged as the preferential places to <keyword id="68134" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="study-abroad" source="Orion">study abroad</keyword>.</li></ul> Studying abroad has become costlier amid a sharp fall in rupee. The cost for studying in the US has gone up by Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh per year. The increase in tuition fees in the US, the UK and <keyword id="6355478" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="australia" source="Orion">Australia</keyword> by 10 to 20 per cent is another reason behind the costlier education abroad. Also, the airfares have increased in recent times, which has added burden on students studying abroad. Adding to the woes, the visas of lakhs of Indian students have not been approved in countries like the US, the UK, <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> and Australia. There are long delays in getting student visas while at the same time those students, whose visas have been approved, are facing inflation due to rupee depreciation. Indian students abroad are also facing problems in finding accommodation due to the increase in the prices of hostels and homestays. Germany seems to be reaping the benefits due to this delay in the approval of student visas by other countries. According to a recent report by the <keyword id="432632" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="german-academic-exchange-service" source="Orion">German Academic Exchange Service</keyword> (DAAD), the number of Indian students studying in Germany increased from 17,570 in 2017 to 34,134 in 2021. Actually, education is subsidised by the German government. All international students studying in state-funded universities in Germany do not have to pay tuition fees. This is one of the biggest benefits for the international students in Germany and a major relief for Indian students amid the costlier education in other popular countries. Although various courses are available at low cost to Indian students in countries like Germany, the students do not change their preferences easily. <keyword id="2733148" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sumeet-jain" source="Orion">Sumeet Jain</keyword>, co-founder, <keyword id="4136682" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="yocket" source="Orion">Yocket</keyword>, a community-based platform for overseas studies, said, "Due to the rupee depreciation, the average additional cost to study in the US has gone up by Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh per year. Despite this, the students do not make decisions without comprehensively evaluating various aspects. Some students, who want to pursue post research, for them there is no point in moving to other countries. While many students keep their options open. Students prefer the US for <keyword id="435553" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="stem" source="Orion">STEM</keyword> courses while for non-STEM courses they opt for the UK and Australia. Experts believe that the continued delays in visas have jeopardised the competitiveness of popular places of study. While earlier countries like the US, the UK, Australia and Canada were the first choice of the students, now Germany, Spain, France, Portugal and the UAE have emerged as the preferential places to study abroad. Significantly, the Covid-19 pandemic has proved to be a major obstacle for students who wish to pursue higher education abroad. In the US and some European countries, students are getting a waiting period of one to two years for visas. This simply means that an Indian student enrolling in a US university will be able to get a US visa after one or two years. According to industry experts, the number of Indian students moving to countries such as the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand stood at around 10 lakh in early 2022, almost double the levels before the pandemic. Similarly, the number of visa applications has increased much more than before, due to which now there is a delay in the visa approval. S. Ghosh, a student from Kolkata, said it is taking around 440 days to get a visa. SEE ALSO:

Falling rupee makes studying abroad costlier

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Lorrah Minton, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-bought-a-cheap-house-in-italy-sicily-listings-2023-7">an American who bought and renovated properties in Italy</a>, is helping others make the move. </li><li>She said she was inundated with requests for help after documenting her journey on social media.</li></ul>For many, Italy is a dream vacation destination. For others, they dream of moving there. Lorrah Minton made her relocation dream a reality.In March, Minton <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-bought-a-cheap-house-in-italy-sicily-listings-2023-7">bought a home in Mussomeli, Italy</a>, a town near Sicily, for 57,000 euros, or about $62,000. She owns three properties in Sicily and is closing on a fourth this month. She now helps others plan their move to Italy.<div type="image" title="The exterior of an old Italian home." height="960" width="1280" msid="106494777" hostid="261" sizebytes="325386"></div>Minton, and her sister, Lisa, lay out their journeys buying and renovating properties, as well as their travel — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@theamateursabroad/video/7288811466033990955">like a trip to Wales</a> — on their blog <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theamateursabroad.com/">The Amateurs Abroad</a>.Moving abroad is a popular topic, and Minton told Business Insider she received so many inquiries for help that she started doing some consulting on relocation. Plus, while buying a house is complicated, buying one overseas can be even more challenging — and that's where Minton comes in. She makes phone calls to answer questions, helps find homes, sends video tours, or goes on tours with prospective buyers.She also advises on what visa works best for you and shares her local neighborhood knowledge with potential relocators."We really hit our nerve with people that are not wanting to wait to retire to start getting some things off their bucket list and what they want their retirement to look like," Minton told BI.Here are four tips from Minton and how to make a move to Italy go smoothly.<h2>There are different ways to secure a visa in Italy</h2>Minton is selling her home in northern California and is not an Italian resident yet, but she suggests looking at different avenues for acquiring a visa in Italy. As a US citizen, Minton is allowed to stay in Italy for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. She plans to travel throughout Europe before returning to Italy. Once her California house sells, she's considering buying more property in Italy. "I'm not sure about the residency part yet. I'm working out my residency part, there's a couple different visas you can get," she said.One way to secure a visa is by investing in local companies. By making a 250,000 euro, or $276,000, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/countries-you-can-buy-resident-status-golden-visa-list-portugal-2022-8#7-italy-250000-minimum-investment-required-7">investment in a local startup</a> or a 500,000 euro investment in a more established company — like Ferrari — you can receive a visa, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.henleyglobal.com/residence-investment/italy">according to London-based consultancy Henley &amp; Partners</a>."Their startups aren't like our startups — like someone in a garage startup," Minton said. "It's like a company that's been established. It's a newer company, but it is established."Another way to obtain a visa is the Elective Residency Visa (ERV), which is commonly known as the retirement visa, <a target="_blank" href="https://visaguide.world/retirement-visa/italy/">according to VisaGuide.World</a>. A person needs a passive income of 31,000 euros, health insurance, and a lease — which can be one of the more challenging steps, according to Minton."It's hard to get a lease there," she said. "The leases are traditionally four years with a four-year renewal. You can get out of them with a six-month notice, but foreigners, if they're getting a lease, want to just get something for a year while they look around, find a house, and all that stuff."Those interested in moving to Italy permanently should research visa options and potentially consult an immigration lawyer who specializes in overseas relocations.<h2>Italy is big, so do your research</h2>Italy's regions can have vastly different characteristics."You have to figure out what region you want to go to and you can do research to get that feel," Minton said. "Northern Italy is usually more expensive, has colder weather longer than Southern Italy, and there are big cities. Do you want big cities? Do you want small cities? You have to do that research."You could figure out what you like by, of course, visiting different areas. But if you're unable to make trips, Minton suggests you check out Facebook groups and look for real estate agents.Narrow down your search beforehand, Minton advised, and give real estate agents plenty of information so they know you're serious about a move and not a looky-loo, she added.<h2>If you buy a vacant home, make sure everything is up to date</h2>In an effort to revitalize certain neighborhoods, smaller cities in Italy offered homes in need of renovations <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/italy-town-maenza-selling-one-euro-houses-near-rome-2021-8?_gl=1*1wt1rb5*_ga*NjI0Njg2MTQxLjE2NDMwNTA4NDk.*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcwMzg4MTc4Mi4xNzY5LjEuMTcwMzg4MTgxMC4zMi4wLjA.">for 1 euro</a>. While enticing to start anew in Italy with a clean slate, the process of getting your home in a livable condition can take some time.An abandoned property may not have any electricity or utilities set up. According to Minton, getting the electricity back on could take a week, and water could take up to a month.You can hire architects or contractors to do a walk-through and check for problems, Minton said, but you may not fully know what doesn't work until the utilities are back on.Minton also suggested that you pay attention to what's been done to the property previously and make sure everything in the home matches the records."You'll get the plans and all of a sudden there's an extra wall or you've got a window and you're supposed to get those things permitted just like you do in the States," Minton said. "So if you have unpermitted work done on something at the time, during the escrow period when you're waiting to close is when they discover, 'Hey, these walls weren't there.' So you either have to get the plans up to date or restore it back to its original state. So that can come up also and kind of be a kink in the plan."Also, a quirk to the homebuying process in Italy is that you might not get everything you see on your first tour. It's common for sellers to take appliances and furnishings with them.<div type="image" title="A small newly renovated kitchen." height="480" width="640" msid="106494778" hostid="261" sizebytes="15680"></div>"More than half the time the kitchen's gone, or they leave you a couple crappy pieces," Minton said. "So the $50,000 house now says it's an extra $3,000 for the kitchen to stay, and the lights, the chandeliers, the overhead lighting — they take all that. So it kind of feels like you get a stripped car when you get the house."<h2>Keep an eye on the exchange rates</h2>Minton said that kitchen renovations in Italy are relatively inexpensive compared to the US — she renovated two kitchens for 5,500 euros — but it's important to make sure you know when your dollar will go the furthest."The hugest thing before buying a house to me is watching the exchange rate, because you want to transfer the money at a favorable time," Minton said.Minton uses <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/wise-multi-currency-account-review">multi-currency account Wise</a> while in Italy to convert her money quickly so she can take advantage of the always changing rates. Staying on your toes can help you save thousands of dollars when making a big purchase like a home.<div type="image" title="A for sale sign outside of a property in Italy." height="480" width="640" msid="106494780" hostid="261" sizebytes="54146"></div>"I transferred my money buying the house when the euro and the exchange rate was 99 cents equaled one euro — which was insanely great," Minton said. "Had I waited until I closed six months later and done it then, I would've lost over $6,000 just in the exchange rate. That's a lot of furniture and decorations."

4 tips on buying a home in Italy from an American who's done it

German Ambassador to <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> and Bhutan, <keyword id="8098012" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="walter-j-lindner" source="Orion">Walter J Lindner</keyword> on Thursday said the government of the European nation will start recognizing <keyword id="149108" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="bharat-biotech" source="Orion">Bharat Biotech</keyword>'s COVID-19 vaccine for travel purpose there from June 1. In a tweet, <keyword id="4171576" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="lindner" source="Orion">Lindner</keyword> said, Very happy that GER government just decided to recognize WHO-listed Covaxin for travels to GER, starting June 1! This Embassy has been pushing very actively for such decision (because of Covid-backlogs visa sections have longer waiting periods than normal, please have patience). In November last year, the <keyword id="6356311" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="world-health-organisation" source="Orion">World Health Organisation</keyword> recommended Emergency Use Listing (EUL) status for Covaxin. Several countries including Australia, Japan and Canada allow passengers vaccinated with Covaxin into those countries. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/tomatoes-brinjal-and-green-vegetable-prices-soar-and-will-keep-going-up-due-to-rains/articleshow/91802500.cms">Tomatoes, brinjal and green vegetable prices soar and will keep going up due to rains</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/an-israeli-company-has-partnered-with-an-indian-company-to-locally-produce-a-machine-that-generates-drinking-water-from-air/articleshow/91791365.cms">To help fight water scarcity, a machine that produces drinking water from air has been launched in India</a>

Germany to recognise Bharat Biotech’s 'Covaxin' from June 1

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Tahmina Watson is an immigration lawyer in Seattle who often works with tech employees on visas.</li><li>She described recent rounds of layoffs and hiring freezes as some of the worst she's seen.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tahmina Watson, an immigration lawyer from Seattle. It has been edited for length and clarity.I was a barrister, or lawyer, in the United Kingdom before immigrating to the United States in 2005. I started practicing US immigration law in 2006 after sitting for the New York bar examination. However, living in Washington without a state license limited my practice areas.Initially I didn't want to practice immigration law, thinking that because I'm an empath it would pull at my heartstrings all the time. I eventually realized it's so much more than asylum and refugee law — I love working with intelligent and innovative business leaders trying to change the world and make it a better place for everyone.<h2>My clients want the 'American dream'</h2>They usually have an idea of where they want to live, whether it's in Silicon Valley or where they have family and friends. My clients are based all over the US, since immigration law is federal and I can serve people anywhere in the country. In Seattle, where I live, people often stay after graduating from school or because they got a job at one of the Fortune 500 companies headquartered here.My clients work for companies of all sizes, from startups to large corporations, and are cofounders, CEOs, executives, software engineers, data scientists, computer analysts, and many other titles. Outside the tech industry, I've helped <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flawed-h1b-visa-system-layoffs-undermining-americas-tech-industry-2022-12">secure visas</a> for investors, entrepreneurs, teachers, therapists, architects, lawyers, musicians, artists, and religious workers.I frequently work with human-resource departments. I also work with individuals who need guidance navigating the immigration maze and don't have direct access to a company lawyer — I become a second opinion for them.My fees are based on <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-nonimmigrant-workers">visa-application types</a>. I assist in employment-based, investment-based, family-based, and naturalization cases. I usually offer flat fees for preparing cases which can range from $3,500 to $15,000.<h2>This is an incredibly stressful time for anyone being laid off — and even more stressful for those on a visa that relies on an employer</h2>There's fear and anxiety about the future. People feel pressure to secure a new employer as soon as possible. However, they're facing immense challenges because of the economic downturn resulting in hiring freezes.One of my clients was recently told they'd be laid off from Amazon in a few weeks. This client is still there, trying to find an appropriate job. He's not sure what will happen to him and is very anxious and afraid. Another client got laid off from Facebook and is in the middle of interviews and hoping to get a new job offer soon. I've talked to a few other laid-off people recently who didn't say where they were laid off from. I had a Canadian client on a <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/tn-nafta-professionals">TN NAFTA visa</a> hoping to adjust through her US-citizen spouse. The person was already married before the layoff occurred.So far, the laid-off tech workers I've spoken with have had various citizenship backgrounds, including China, Canada, Japan, India, and Bangladesh. Many are getting four to eight weeks' notice of their last date. Some stopped working immediately but are on payroll for a few more weeks. Their visa types are varied. Most of them are on H-1B visas, but some are on L-1 and TN visas.One client explained that he arrived in the US on an L-1 visa from Southeast Asia in spring 2022. He uprooted his spouse and two children. The employer helped with some expenses, but he said it cost him more than $125,000 to move his life to the US. He didn't for a moment anticipate a layoff.The L-1 regulations are different from the H-1B regulations: H-1B rules require the employer to pay for the airfare back home if employment is terminated, while the L-1 doesn't have that rule. So this person is being offered no financial assistance to return home. He's undoubtedly in an unimaginable bind, engulfed in uncertainty, fear, anger, and stress.<h2>The layoffs will result in entrepreneurship, and we must help innovative people with the option to do so</h2>Visa holders who expect a pink slip should immediately start looking for a new employer to sponsor them. They should also seek legal advice about all their visa options. Depending on the country of their citizenship and current visa status, they could have opportunities to do something independently.For example, many don't know you can have a <a href="https://khaliquelaw.com/blog/h-1b-visa-option-for-self-employed-entrepreneurs/">self-employed H-1B visa</a>. Getting an H-1B visa with your own company requires a very put-together application with strong documentation. The key requirement is that you must demonstrate an employer-employee relationship. I've helped many entrepreneurs, business owners, and startup founders successfully obtain an H-1B visa with their own company as their sponsor. It's not easy, but it's possible.Many people wait to receive their green cards before taking the risk of entrepreneurship. But now they may not have a choice but to take that step.To educate others on this issue, I've been holding <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2022/09/03/opinion-startup-layoffs-impact-non-immigrant-visas.html">visa workshops</a> for laid-off skilled workers so they can learn about the visa options for starting their own companies.<h2>The most common visa used for skilled professionals is the H-1B visa</h2>The H-1B visa allows a total of six years in the US, but one can remain beyond six years if their employer has filed a green-card application on their behalf.These people have a lot to lose. Their spouse may have a work permit. Their children, who were likely born in the US, may go to school.The entire family's visa status is at risk when someone's laid off. The principal visa holder's family can usually be in the US on a dependent visa and would hold H-4 or L-2 visas. In certain conditions, H-4 spouses are able to work and L-2 spouses can automatically work. Therefore, in these layoff situations, a two-income household immediately turns into a zero-income household. Children also lose their status. In one fell swoop, everyone's life in a family is turned upside down.The silver lining for H-1B visa holders is that they can transfer their visa to another sponsoring employer — if they can find one. Immigrants have a maximum of 60 days on their H-1B visa to obtain new employment. Given the current economic conditions, that may be hard. After the 60 days, they either change visa status or leave the country.L-1 visa holders don't have the same option as H-1B visa holders to transfer their visas to another company. Even if a new employer sponsors them, they must enter the H-1B lottery, a once-a-year application process that's become increasingly difficult. For example, just over <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-and-fashion-models/h-1b-electronic-registration-process">120,000 visas</a> were selected from over 480,000 applications in 2022 for the 2023 projected period.Employees on an E-2 visa have similar challenges as the L-1 visa holder — they can be employed only by their original employer. If people are on other visas, such as the O-1 or the TN visa, they could work for a new employer upon the approval of a new application.<h2>I don't recall major tech companies ever laying people off at this scale and simultaneously freezing hiring</h2>The situation is such that employers aren't hiring or sponsoring visa applications — and that leaves skilled immigrants with few or no options but to leave the US.This is a moment to recognize that <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/archive/uscis-publishes-final-rule-for-certain-employment-based-immigrant-and-nonimmigrant-visa-programs">60 days</a> is not enough time to either wrap up life in the US or find a new job with visa sponsorship. We should advocate extending the grace period; I think the administration should consider implementing a 120-day grace period. It would give both immigrant workers and US businesses the time they need to act.I saw a similar situation unfold during the 2008-2009 recession, and it made me advocate for a "startup visa." Many laid-off clients then told me they wanted to start their own companies and couldn't because of our visa system. My book, "<a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-59897-20&amp;postID=6398b34f20014469dc7f6d1f&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FStartup-Visa-Economic-Prosperity-America%2Fdp%2F1735758531%2Fref%3Dtmm_pap_swatch_0%3F_encoding%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1669820210%26sr%3D8-2">My Startup Visa</a>," is now in its second edition, but I haven't seen the change in the law needed.The mass layoffs are giving more urgency than ever for the US to offer a startup visa, a <a href="https://fortune.com/2022/08/19/chips-act-us-employers-tech-talent-immigration-rules-canada-startup-visa-program/">new visa category that exists in other countries</a> to give foreign entrepreneurs permanent residency in that country to create jobs, innovation, and economic growth. It would allow talented entrepreneurs backed by venture, angel funding, or revenue to start their companies in the United States.This is a time to be creative. That's my new mission: using my voice as an immigration lawyer to push for tangible and immediate change.

I'm a lawyer who's helping laid-off Amazon and Facebook employees deal with visa issues. Here's how I advocate for them.

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Kevin Lamarque/Reuters</div></div></div>President Donald Trump on Friday <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/908676979561570304">tweeted</a> a new condition for a potential DACA deal with Democrats that could become a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-chain-migration-immigration-democrats-2017-9">sticking point in negotiations</a>."CHAIN MIGRATION cannot be allowed to be part of any legislation on Immigration!," he wrote, just two days after a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/republicans-trump-daca-deal-democrats-schumer-pelosi-2017-9">tentative agreement was discussed</a> between Trump and top Democrats over how to handle the young immigrants protected from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.Chain migration is a term almost exclusively used by immigration hardliners when referring to the family reunification-based component of the US immigration system, through which US citizens or lawful permanent residents may sponsor close family members to join them in the US.Prominent anti-immigration groups like the <a href="https://www.fairus.org/issue/legal-immigration/chain-migration">Federation for American Immigration Reform</a> and <a href="https://www.numbersusa.com/solutions/end-chain-migration">NumbersUSA</a> have frequently denounced chain migration, describing it as a process that admits "indefinite" quantities of unskilled immigrants based on family connections alone and that prompts foreigners to view US immigration as a "right or entitlement."Immigration proponents, however, describe family-based immigration as essential in helping new immigrants assimilate into US society. The <a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/advantages-family-based-immigration">American Immigration Council</a> argues that newcomers who are able to bring family members with them when they migrate to the US have stronger social and economic support that helps them "navigate the system."Furthermore, immigration hardliners' theory that scores of newly naturalized US citizens are sponsoring endless strings of family members has been roundly <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2011/10/16/the-myth-of-chain-migration-2/#a1e58b64562d">criticized by immigration experts</a>. The US's visa and green-card backlogs alone ensure that many prospective immigrants face painstakingly long waiting periods before being admitted to the country or given permanent residency - a huge barrier in attempting to help consecutive family members migrate to the US.Family-based immigration is not an immediate process, and it can take years, or even decades, for immigrant visas to be made available and processing to occur. Then, once the family member arrives in the US on an immigrant visa, it takes <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/greencard/green-card-processes-procedures">additional time to receive a green card</a> that denotes permanent residency. After that, permanent residents typically have to wait <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-naturalization/path-us-citizenship">five years</a> before they may apply to become US citizens.Trump's tweet about chain migration on Friday could signal a new bump in the road for a potential immigration deal with Democrats. The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/daca-lindsey-graham-dick-durbin-urge-action-on-dream-act-trump-immigration-news-2017-9">bipartisan DREAM Act</a> recently reintroduced in Congress by Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham includes a pathway to citizenship for the so-called "Dreamers," whose protections under the DACA program will be phased out over the next six months.Any pathway to citizenship offered to Dreamers would inevitably allow some to sponsor relatives, including their undocumented parents - who, in many cases, brought them to the US as children. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-dwayne-the-rock-johnson-could-make-a-real-run-as-president-chris-jericho-2017-9">How Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson could make a real run as president - according to someone who's known him since 1999</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

You Searched For "visa waiting period" and got 12 results

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I'm a lawyer who's helping laid-off Amazon and Facebook employees deal with visa issues. Here's how I advocate for them.

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Trump just said a DACA deal with Democrats can't include 'CHAIN MIGRATION' - here's what he means

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