- Saturday, January 11, 2025
Besides asking the officials to help the students with the visa formalities, he also told them to consult the ministry of external affairs to resolve the issue.
By: Shubham Ghosh
Y S JAGANMOHAN Reddy, chief minister of the south-eastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, has asked his government officials to gather details about students from the state who have been stranded in the US as authorities in the North American country were deporting them over visa concerns.
Besides asking the officials to help the students with the visa formalities, Reddy also told them to consult the ministry of external affairs to resolve the issue.
At least 21 Indian students were deported from various airports in the US between August 12 and 16 raising worries over visa-related issues, The New Indian Express reported. Of them, 16 are reportedly from Andhra and its neighbouring state Telangana — both dominated by Telugu-speaking people. These students reportedly reached the US after completing their visa procedures to pursue higher education.
Reports also said that the students, who were embarking on their journey in the US with F1 visas, were rejected at the airport by the immigration officials and the Indians did not get any official explanation for their deportation, the report added.
It was also learnt from reports that the reason for the students’ deportation would only be communicated to the Indian consulate. According to the Indian daily, non-resident Indians in the US have alleged that students often find themselves at the receiving end because of misleading information from consultancies in India and a lack of awareness about the procedure and paperwork.
In a press release on Saturday (19), Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society quoted the GO which acknowledges the guideline that even a valid US visa does not guarantee entry into the country and that the Customs and Border Protection officials at the port of entry (US immigration) should be convinced for granting entry.
“Many students are deceived by consultancies. They withdraw the funds from their bank accounts immediately after stamping the visa, even though they need to maintain a certain balance in the account for their stay. Additionally, US regulations prohibit F1 visa holders from working outside of their universities, leading to further issues if students seek employment elsewhere,” Ayesha Charugula, an NRI in California, was quoted as saying by the daily.
S Narahari, president of Andhra Pradesh Parents Association in Nellore told the newspaper that the incident of deportation not only disrupts the students’ academic aspirations but also puts an immense financial burden on their parents.
Seeking intervention from both the Narendra Modi government in New Delhi and the state governments in the matter, he added that urgent steps need to be taken to ensure the deported students’ swift readmission to the US.
