US visa rules flouted: 10,000 students found working for shady firms, including Indians
Washington, May 13: The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USA Department of Homeland Security) has identified 10,000 foreign students accused of abusing the Optional Practical Training (OPT) provision of their visas to work for questionable employers. A large number of these students include Indian youth. The OPT allows foreign students coming to the US on student visas to work for up to 12 months, and in some circumstances, up to 24 months. It also offers the opportunity to convert to an employer-sponsored H-1B visa.
According to The New York Times, Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, said at a press conference on Tuesday that the OPT provision of the student visa program has become a hotbed of fraud. The Department of Homeland Security has investigated it several times. These students are involved in espionage, biothreats, intellectual property theft, visa and employment fraud. Many have targeted elderly Americans. The United States will not tolerate the security risks posed by the foreign student program.
Lyons said that most of the students are claiming jobs with dubious companies. Many of these companies exist only on paper. The actual number of people involved in this fraud could be much higher. Authorities have advised students involved in such activities to either return to their countries or surrender immediately. After reviewing their documents, their visas will either be revoked. These dubious companies have a network spread across several states, including Texas, Virginia, and New Jersey.
