Students Deported : A Five-Year Entry Ban May Apply from the US

Students Deported : A five-year entry ban In a startling revelation, a recent report by Times of India (TOI) has shed light on the plight of students who were deported from the United States and had their student visas cancelled, potentially facing a significant five-year entry ban to the country. This development raises concerns not only for their academic aspirations but also for their future prospects in other sought-after international study destinations like Canada, the UK, and Australia. Experts warn that these individuals may even face hurdles obtaining coveted H1B visas in the future, unless endorsed by major multinational corporations.

Financially, the ramifications of F1 visa cancellation are substantial, with affected students grappling with losses amounting to approximately ₹3 lacks. This staggering sum includes visa fees, airfare, university application costs, consultant charges, and more. The recent deportation of twenty-one Indian students from the United States on a single day has sent shockwaves through the educational community, magnifying apprehensions surrounding visa-related complications with the five-year entry ban.

The deported students, mostly from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, had completed all necessary visa formalities and arrived in the US with dreams of pursuing higher education. Their aspirations, however, were dashed when they were subjected to intensive document checks by immigration officers, leading to their unexpected detainment with a five-year entry ban. These incidents occurred at airports in major cities including Atlanta, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Students Deported & Expressing Their Bewilderment

Expressing their bewilderment, many students assert that they had diligently fulfilled all visa requirements and were fully prepared to embark on their academic journeys. In a perplexing turn of events, some students reported that immigration officers scrutinized their mobile phones and even WhatsApp conversations. They were then instructed to leave the country calmly, accompanied by stern warnings of severe legal consequences should they voice any objections.

The affected students were en route to universities across the United States, including institutions in Missouri and South Dakota. This series of incidents has highlighted the need for transparency in the visa approval process and comprehensive communication from authorities to ensure that deserving students are not caught in limbo.

A deeper analysis of data for May and June reveals a stark contrast in F1 visa issuance. In the corresponding period, around 42,750 students secured F1 visas from five Indian consulates. However, the numbers for the same months in 2022 were notably lower, with only 38,309 F1 visas issued.

This alarming trend of the five-year entry ban raises concerns among prospective international students who are eagerly awaiting visa approvals for the upcoming fall semester. As the global education landscape navigates through uncertainty, the plight of these deported students acts as a stark reminder of the challenges they face, not just in realizing their academic dreams, but also in building promising career paths on foreign shores.

Also Read : Immigration Issues : Shocking Reasons Indian Students Returning from America