Hyderabad, February 07: In what looks like a ray of hope for the Indians who have lost their student visas due to the closure of the California-based ‘sham’ Tri-Valley University, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has indicated that it is ready to consider reinstating the immigration status of the students.
“We received a message from ICE today indicating that they would consider the possibility of reinstatement of the student visa status through I-539,” Consul General at the Indian Consulate, San Francisco, Susmita Gongulee Thomas said.
I-539 is the form used by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for visa extension and change of immigration status. When one is out of the visa status for any reason under a particular law of the US and the individual is not in criminal violation, the USCIS may agree to give the reinstatement of his or her status under this form. No immediate details of ICE’s indication are available, even as hundreds of affected Indian students, mostly from Andhra Pradesh, are facing the threat of deportation. The Indian students stuck in the Tri-Valley University mess may also have a way out by opting for ‘voluntary repatriation’, indicate Ministry of External Affairs officials in Delhi. While this seems to be a possible option for students rather than being officially deported back to India, it is believed that the US may as well ask students ‘to voluntarily repatriate’ considering their large number (over 1,500). “In certain cases voluntary repatriation can be the answer. But whether it is possible in the present circumstances is unclear,” said an MEA official in Delhi.
‘Voluntary Repatriation’ means the decision of return is made without any pressure and those who can opt for voluntary repatriation have a legal right to stay in the host country. “Voluntary repatriation looks like a possiblility at the moment but considering the legalities, it cannot be said for sure whether it will be done,” a member of the Telugu Association of North America told.
–Agencies