US Embassy’s strong message: Indians who overstay visa may face permanent ban
New Delhi: The US Embassy has issued a new advisory warning Indian citizens that if a person stays in the US even after the visa period, he may be deported and may also have to face a permanent entry ban in the future.
The US Embassy India posted on its official X (first Twitter) handle and wrote:
“If you overstay your authorized stay in the United States, you may be deported and may face a permanent ban on US travel in the future.”
This advisory is specifically for people who travel to the US on temporary visas such as work visas (H-1B), student visas (F-1), and tourist visas (B-2). All these visa types have a specified period after which they must return.
Continuation of Trump’s strict immigration policy
Immigration has always been a controversial issue in the US, but it has become even more strict under former President Donald Trump. Trump passed several executive orders against illegal immigration immediately after his inauguration. His biggest and most controversial step was challenging the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to anyone born in the US.
However, this decision faced legal challenges and the issue is still pending in the courts. Despite that, the Trump administration aggressively enforced existing immigration laws. People who violated visa conditions or were without documents were deported from the US. People were also given the option of voluntary departure so that they do not have to face legal action.
New Rules and Monitoring System
During the Trump administration, several major changes were made in the immigration rules. A new rule was introduced under which foreign nationals who stay in the US for more than 30 days are required to register with the federal government. This step was taken to keep an eye on visa holders and discourage overstays.
In February, another tough step was seen when hundreds of Indian nationals were deported by loading them in three U.S. military aircraft. All of them had entered the US illegally. This mass deportation once again highlighted the tough immigration stance of the Trump administration.
Bad news for H-1B Visa Holders
During Trump’s tenure, the H-1B visa program was also kept under surveillance. This visa is mostly used by skilled Indian professionals. But under the new policies, both obtaining and renewing this visa became difficult. Along with this, the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also intensified, which included arresting and deporting illegal immigrants.
Another controversial step was to remove the automatic citizenship rights of children born in the US whose parents are illegal immigrants. This policy also became a part of many legal and political debates.
What do you learn?
This advisory is a wake-up call for all Indian citizens who dream of travelling or settling in the US. It is very important to follow the visa conditions, otherwise there is not only a risk of deportation but the door to US travel may also be closed in the future.
Those wishing to go to the US should carefully understand their visa terms and avoid any illegal activity or overstay. Because now even a small mistake can get you permanently disqualified for US.
This step is to improve the immigration system, but its effect will be most felt by those who want to stay in the US without any rules. It is better to take care in time.