US, India working to resolve woes of closed varsity students

Washington: US authorities have agreed to work closely with the Indian embassy here for early resolution of the problems faced by hundreds of Indian students affected by the closure of a fraud US university.

The agreement was reached during a meeting here between a group of Indian students of the Tri-Valley University (TVU) with Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar with representatives from the US Immigrationand Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Student Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) present.

There was a detailed and useful discussion and exchange of information on the manner in which the problems of students at TVU are being addressed, and some of the continuing concerns of the students, the embassy said.

"It was agreed that the students and representatives from ICE and SEVP would remain in touch with the Embassy to continue to work together for early resolution of the issue,"

The Embassy said it had also been informed by US authorities that more than 50 per cent of the students were at various stages of processing for reinstatement.

Other students were advised to contact ICE on their website (www.ice.gov/sevis), or contact their call centre at telephone 703-603-3400 to initiate the consideration of their cases.

Nearly 1,500 Indian students face the prospect of deportation unless they can secure admission to another school to maintain their visa status.

As many as 18 Indian students were radio tagged to prevent their fleeing. Anklet monitors of 11 of the students have since been removed following the intervention of the Indian consulate in San Francisco.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had in a Feb 22 letter to Shankar assured her that the State Department is following the case "closely and is working with the Department of Homeland Security and the Government of India to ensure fair and appropriate treatment of the students."

Reiterating the strong commitment to foster educational exchanges with India, Clinton also said, "Indian students make a strong contribution to both our countries and it is among my priorities to ensure that this pillar of our partnership remains strong".

source:http://indiaedunews.net/International/US,_India_working_to_resolve_woes_of_closed_varsity_students_13638/

India asks US to prevent exploitation of foreign students

New Delhi: India on Wednesday said it expected the US to prevent its universities from exploiting foreign students, as has happened in the case of Tri-ValleyUniversity in California in which about 1,500 Indians face an uncertain academic future.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, in a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha, said the government was confident that the "unfortunate development" in the Tri-Valley University would not affect the "excellent cooperation" between India and the US in higher education, under which over a lakh Indian students are studying in American universities.

"The government expects the United States would take steps to prevent such (Tri-Valley) universities from exploiting foreign students. The government would also advise Indian students to exercise due diligence in applying to foreign universities," he said soon after the Question Hour ended.

"I am confident that this unfortunate development will not affect the excellent cooperation between India and theUnited States in higher education, which includes the presence of over 100,000 Indian students at US universities, and who enjoy a strong reputation for academic accomplishments and responsible conduct," he added.

Krishna said while India recognized the right of every government to investigate and prosecute fraud, it has asked the US government that all Tri-Valley students, who are themselves victims of fraud, should be given adequate time and opportunity to transfer to other universities or adjust their status. And, if they desired so, they should be allowed to return to India honorably.

Noting that the US government had closed Tri-Valley University last month foralleged immigration fraud and other irregularities, Krishna said the university was authorized in February 2009 to admit a limited number of foreign students, but had not enjoyed state accreditation.

Its 1,500 Indian students constituted 95 percent of enrolment at the university and they were there on valid visas or authorization.

"US authorities had questioned a number of Indian students and 18 of them were initially detained and then released with radio monitoring devices on their ankles, pending completion of their investigations for possible involvement in irregularities," he said.

Krishna said India had strongly protested the radio collars as "unacceptable", which should be removed immediately and the US authorities had begun progressively removing them.

The US authorities, he said, have also assured that innocent students would have adequate opportunity to readjust their status or transfer to other universities.

Assuring that the government and the Indian embassy and consulates general in the US were fully engaged in addressing the welfare and academic future of the affected students, the minister said the Indian mission had got in touch with most of the students despite them being dispersed across the US without registering their new contact details.

The embassy and consulates "have provided all possible assistance to them, including through direct meetings, by organizing a free legal aid camp and issuing appropriate guidance and advisories", he added.

Krishna said that he personally took up the matter with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao had also conveyed India's concerns to American authorities during her visit to the US.

source:http://indiaedunews.net/International/India_asks_US_to_prevent_exploitation_of_foreign_students_13579/