Twin states students haven’t given up their wish to take admission in Silicon Valley and Northwestern Polytechnic Universities yet, despite deportations. Why?
Only one third of the students who made it to the US for admissions in these varsities from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) were deported as of now.
As per records of emigration officers of RGIA, while about 150 students with F1 visas to Silicon Valley University (SVU) and Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU) were deported since December 20; the total pool of immigrant students to these varsities has crossed 500.
As per the RGIA count, 50 to 60 students are still travelling to the US on F1 visas issued by the US consulate to take admission in these institutes, every day.
And this, despite the fact that the Air India which offers cheaper airfare when compared to private airlines stopped boarding SVU and NPU students in their flights from December 19.
As per AI’s official policy, only students who book return tickets which can be used at the instance of deportation can board their flights.
Flying at high fare
Students who would have earlier chosen to travel to San Francisco for ticket rates ranging between Rs.50,000 and Rs. 60,000 are now going for jacked up airfares of other airlines that range between Rs. 75,000 and Rs. 85,000.
The rush to fly is also in view of the orientation deadline, January 4, looming large.
“While several of us had written to the authorities asking for an extension of orientation and class commencement (January 11) dates, we have not got a positive answer from them,” a student scheduled to fly to San Francisco on January 1 said.
RGIA’s emigration officers are not surprised at students still flying to the US.
“Since December 26 just one or two SVU and NPU bound students were deported from the US. And the flow of students from here has not ebbed,” a senior officer said.
As rush for admissions in seven other US universities which are of “poor” standards according to overseas education consultants in Hyderabad, numbers have been growing steadily.
“There are over a 100 students flying per day to meet their admission schedule,” the RGIA officer said, adding “as long as there is immigration to the US there will be deportation for reasons which are not completely known to all”.
US clarification
PTI adds: The U.S. has conveyed that the decision to deny entry to Indian students was not because of black-listing of the two institutions but was based on the immigration assessment of individuals even as India asserted that American authorities must honour visas issued by them.
The Indian reaction came after more Indians travelling on business/tourism/work visas have been deported recently. In a fresh advisory on Wednesday, External Affairs Ministry here said according to the U.S. government, the deported persons had presented information to the border patrol agent which was inconsistent with their visa status.
The number of immigrant students to SVU & NPU from A.P. and Telangana has crossed 500.
