When people talk about higher education in Delhi-NCR, Galgotias University is often part of the conversation. The university is known for its courses, campus life and large student base. Right now, it is also in the news due to a controversy over a robot dog on campus. At the same time
The committee recommended that all banks whether in the private or public sector, should adopt a uniform policy of not charging penalties from customers for failure to maintain a minimum balance in their savings accounts. New Delhi: A Parliamentary committee has recommended that banks should not
Premier League leaders Arsenal were held to a draw at the Molineux by bottom-placed Wolves on Thursday as Mikel Arteta and Co. dropped more points in their pursuit of the title, leaving the door open for a possible Man City catch-up. The Gunners took their season tally to 58 points in 27 outings
New Delhi: With the arrival of the spring season, the Government of India never fails to showcase the flora of the country at various levels, with the showcase of flower shows in various cities. One of the most significant celebrations of flowers in Noida comes back with the arrival of spring
Mamata Banerjee said that Prime Minister Modi used the prefix 'Swami' in the message while Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is widely known as 'Thakur'. Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for using the word 'Swami' as prefix in a social
Indians face more US visa refusals on social media scrutiny
Indians have increasingly faced temporary US visa refusals over the past year, as social media vetting and enhanced scrutiny over prior arrests hold up application processing in the biggest revenue-generating market for the country's $280-billion outsourcing industry. Applicants have lately received the 221 (g) notifications indicating temporary visa refusal as Washington tightened visa norms after Donald Trump took office in January 2025.
Indians made up more than 70% of the total H-1B visas issued in FY24, data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, and are among the most affected by stricter border controls stateside. The section 221(g) under the US Immigration and Nationality Act refers to temporary refusal of visa or putting an application on hold to give the consular officers time to verify and do background checks before they make a decision.
Such notifications are not new for H-1B or student visa applications. However, immigration experts pointed out that applications that do not require 221(g) are increasingly put on hold. Joel Yanovich, Attorney, Murthy Law Firm, said, “We probably are seeing a higher rate of 221(g) notices. While it's difficult to quantify, the anecdotal evidence suggests that more people are running into further delays, even after getting in for an appointment.”
Lacks precedent
Gnanamookan Senthurjothi, founder, the Visa Code, said that there are two categories of 221 (g) denials under the current Trump regime, and these were not heard of previously. “Since May 2025, we have seen applicants with prior arrest records, which are over a decade old, getting 221 (g).
This is despite multiple stampings they have done before,” he said. In many cases, even those who have valid documents are seeing their visa revoked and given 221 (g) for further processing. “There are hundreds of Indians stuck in India because of this,” he told ET.
Xiao Wang, founder, Boundless Immigration, said that many applicants are also beginning to receive emails saying their visas have been “prudentially revoked” without any clarifications from the Department of State. They are also seeing increased demand for biometric requests for H-1B visa processing, which was not the case earlier.
“All applications are now taking longer for officers to evaluate, slowing down the entire process. Now that they have to do detailed social media vetting and put every case under additional scrutiny and judgment, each case is taking more time, resulting in longer delays for all applications,” he said.
Many of the rescheduled appointments are now seeing further delays as well. “We saw mass cancellations of appointments in early December, when many had already departed the US. These appointments were rescheduled initially for March and April but then some were being pushed out as far as November,” Wang pointed out.
The road ahead
Senthurjothi, who was cited earlier, said after months of silence, individuals that received 221 (g) notifications are being asked to file further documents such as toxicology reports, police records and other related documentation. While the processing is further delayed, he pointed out that this is progress. However, this still affects hundreds of Indians.
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: Hyatt Hotels chairman steps down over Jeffrey Epstein ties Infosys stock rises over 3% after strategic tie-up with Anthropic BNP, Jamaat Face Off At Bangladesh Oath-Taking Over Reform Council Pledge Misinformation is widespread among young Indians Nepal clinch historic seven-wicket over Scotland Galgotias University asked to vacate AI Impact Summit Expo stall over Chinese ‘robotic dog’ row US Deploys Over 50 Jets To West Asia Amid Tensions ED and West Bengal counsels engage in heated exchange over I-PAC raids MAGA leader receives criticism over his racist remark on Lord Hanuman Mahua Moitra Moves Delhi High Court Against Ex-Partner Over Custody Of Pet Dog Henry
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe LIVE streaming, telecast and match time in India. Watch SL vs ZIM T20 World Cup 2026 clash live today. Sri Lanka take on Zimbabwe today, February 19, in Colombo with both teams already through to the Super Eight stage of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
1 hours ago
The White House has warned Iran would be "very wise" to make a deal with the US, amid reports that President Donald Trump is weighing fresh military action against the Islamic Republic. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a news briefing that Trump was still hoping for a diplomatic resolution
1 hours ago
Union Minister of New & Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) said India has over 272 GW non-fossil fuel-based electricity generation capacity, including 141 solar and 55 GW wind energy, at the launch of 'India-U.K. Offshore Wind Taskforce'
1 hours ago
KERALA LOTTERY RESULT 19-02-2026 LIVE: The Kerala State Lottery result for the "Karunya Plus KN - 611" draw on Thursday, February 19, 2026, is scheduled to be announced at 3 PM. This lottery draw is part of the seven weekly draws held in Kerala
1 hours ago
Eating healthy can be hard for people who love foods like burgers. Fitness influencer Vanshika Khurana shared a tasty solution: a spicy burger salad. The recipe satisfies burger cravings while keeping calories low and protein high. In her video, Vanshika explained the inspiration behind the dish
1 hours ago
Pakistan Defence Minister also claimed that India and the Taliban administration were “on the same page” regarding actions against his country. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday alleged that terrorist attacks in the country are the result of a "proxy war" orchestrated by India
1 hours ago
The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam on Thursday joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Secular Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Assembly elections. This is the first time that the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam has joined the alliance
1 hours ago
Apple has a big March 2026 event lineup in New York but the company is also focused on developing its smart range which is expected to include smart glasses and other devices. Apple is said to be working on not just one but three gadgets in that vein
1 hours ago
Did Abhishek Sharma break ICC rules by wearing Siraj’s jersey? Here’s the official regulation and what really happened. No, Abhishek Sharma did not violate ICC regulations when he walked out to bat wearing Mohammed Siraj’s jersey during India’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against the
1 hours ago
As India gears up for the Super 8s, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate points out significant obstacles on the horizon. The predictable nature of the left-handed top order and their struggles against finger spinners have caught the watchful eyes of adversaries. To maintain their competitive edge
1 hours ago
Around a dozen schools in Noida received bomb threat emails on Thursday, triggering panic among students, parents and staff. The threats were sent through email, officials said. Soon after the information was received, Noida Police teams rushed to the affected schools
1 hours ago
At the AI Impact Summit India 2026, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the “guide and philosopher leader of this summit," highlighting the government’s role in shaping India’s artificial intelligence
1 hours ago
On the occasion of Shiv Jayanti 2026, many Bollywood stars wished fans on social media. Mumbai: Bollywood actors Sonali Bendre and Vicky Kaushal on the 19th of February, took to their respective social media accounts to remember Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on the occasion of Shiv Jayanti
1 hours ago
Google Pixel 10a has launched in the market this week and the new model is coming before Apple brings the iPhone 17e model to the country. The Pixel 10a is the latest from Google in its mid-range category and sits well below the premium versions but still brings some of the flagship features to a
1 hours ago
The Dehradun district court received a bomb threat e-mail, prompting a thorough search of the premises, police said. No suspicious material was found during the search, and the threat received on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) was subsequently declared a hoax, they added
1 hours ago
If you use PhonePe for UPI payments, you may no longer need to enter your PIN for smaller transactions. The fintech platform on Thursday announced that it is introducing biometric authentication for UPI payments, allowing users to approve transactions using their smartphone’s fingerprint scanner
1 hours ago
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026 wishes: Riteish Deshmukh extended his best wishes to all the devotees of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He also highlighted the importance of educating children across India about Shivaji Maharaj's contributions and enduring legacy
1 hours ago
A baby’s skin does far more than just add to their soft and cuddly charm; not only is it the body’s largest organ, but it also serves as the body’s first line of defence, regulating temperature, retaining moisture, and protecting against external irritants and infections. Yet
1 hours ago
Ghooskhor Pandat row: Referring to objections raised after the teaser release on February 3, the affidavit said the promotional material was withdrawn within days. New Delhi: Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court stating that the controversial title of the upcoming
1 hours ago
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail applications of Praveen Soni, a government doctor, and his wife in connection with the deaths of at least 26 children who had consumed the contaminated Coldrif cough syrup that he had allegedly prescribed
1 hours ago
Highlighting the country’s rapid technological progress, Macron pointed to the widespread adoption of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), saying India has succeeded in creating a digital identity ecosystem for 1.4 billion people, a feat he noted no other nation has accomplished
1 hours ago
Senior national security officials have informed the White House that US forces could be ready for an attack by this weekend, following a notable buildup of air and naval assets in the Middle East over recent days. The US military is reportedly prepared to launch strikes against Iran as early as
1 hours ago
The Supreme Court of India has delivered a rebuke against the prevalent culture of freebies. The judges said that such initiatives hinder economic progress and stifle development. The Supreme Court on Thursday has criticised the culture of freebies
1 hours ago
“India has built something that no other country in the world has built. A digital identity for 1.4 billion people,” Macron said. French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday praised India’s tech growth and said that the country has built a digital system that no other country has
1 hours ago
Hyderabad: Telangana Housing Board has conducted the public auction of open plots in Lakshmiguda, Rajendranagar mandal near Hyderabad. The highest bid touched Rs 51,000 per square yard on Wednesday, February 18. According to Vice-Chairman VP Gautham
1 hours ago
MCX gold April futures gained 0.22 per cent to Rs 1,56,100 per 10 grams on an intra-day basis. Meanwhile, MCX silver March futures gained 0.29 per cent to Rs 2,44,971 per kg. Mumbai: Gold and silver prices continued to rise for a second consecutive session on Thursday -- amid rise in geopolitical
1 hours ago
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced measures to boost academic ties with India, including a visa-free transit facility and a target to host 30,000 Indian students in France by 2030. He made the announcement during an event at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
1 hours ago
