Misconception

F1 (Student Visas) & Pay to Stay scams

The illegal student issue (which includes international students breaching the conditions) is of top concern to the US authorities and they have taken serious steps to curb it. Every country does this.

While the news here is all about the fake University of Farmington undercover operation by Department of Homeland Security, USA – there is a lot of misconception and in the general public. The entire operation was to get the data of international students who have misused their student visa and breached its conditions.

It must be noted that the exact number of students who got the notice or detained by the department is not clear, while a few TV channels claim it to be 600 students and others claim it to be 1500 or even 5000. It’s also projected that ALL Indian students studying in USA  are being targeted. These wrong speculations and projections are creating panic among many parents here.

Website of the fake University of Farmington as on 01/Feb/2019

While the truth is that many students have used falsified academic documents, fake financials and other documents to gain the student visa. Many have changed the courses and universities looking for short-cuts seeking admission into value less courses and dodgy institutes. Many have breached the student visa condition and are working full time. They have knowingly joined such fake and dodgy institutes just to keep their F1 (student visa) status alive and to stay on in the country. While there is unconfirmed news that a few such students have been detained for immigration violation and may face deportation soon.

USA is the home for the largest foreign-born population and is a country of immigrants. Students studying at good universities and who have submitted genuine documents or have not breached the student visa regulations NEED NOT fear at all. Genuine students with intentions to study are always welcome in USA.

As an education consultant and to avoid any such situation in future I urge the media to educate the prospective students and parents of the facts:

    1) That overseas study is expensive affairs and they must have sufficient funds for tuition fee and living expenses

2     2) That Student cannot work while studying and only option is on-campus jobs for up to 20 hours per week which are very competitive and difficult to obtain. Often such on campus work includes cleaning of campuses, working in cafeteria or assisting lecturers.

3     3) Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment only granted for 12 months. Students can opt for this either before completing their studies (pre-completion) or after finishing their studies (post-completion).

      4) STEM OPT Extension: This is only available for certain students who have completed their studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. They must be employed by employers who have registered in E-Verify system and is only available to a maximum period of 2 years

      5) That any sort of fraud submissions will be dealt very severely and fraud of any sort is not accepted

      6) Students must do their homework and sufficient research before they choose their study destination and must examine the post study opportunities, fee, living costs, details about the city and weather before they opt for it. All this information can be easily available on the internet.

Nishidhar Reddy

E-mail: nishiborra888@gmail.com