US Congressmen urged to help Tri Valley affected Indians

The American Telugu Association, representing the large Telugu community in the US, sought to draw the attention of US lawmakers towards the plight of the students, most of whom are from Andhra Pradesh, at the Tri Valley University.

"It's unfortunate that Indian students in Tri-Valley are mistreated by immigration authorities who have become victims of recent 'scam' by Tri-Valley University," the American Telugu Association president Dr Rajender Jinna, and Bangar Reddy Aaloori, chair community service, wrote in a letter to US lawmakers.

"We respectfully request your help in bringing it to the attention of immigration authorities and favourably consider providing students with all viable options especially to continue their education by allowing them to study in another University within the US and help maintain their legal F-1 status in USA," the letter said.

According to a federal complaint filed in a California court last week, the University helped foreign nationals illegally acquire immigration status.The university is said to have 1,555 students and as many as 95 per cent of these students are Indian nationals.
"The students are from the respectable families in India, never committed any crime and have high respect and dream to study in USA," the letter said.

According to information available here, only about 140 visas were issues directly to Indian students for studying at this university. However, many students it seems had transferred themselves to this university from other universities in the US.
This increased the number of students registered at this university.

Federal agencies here claim that this so called university was not conducting full time courses and registered students were not doing full time studies, causing violation of their visa status.

Indian authorities have pointed out that this university appears to have been authorised by the US system to issues I20 forms, and in any case US consulates in India had issued visas for students to study here after their due scrutiny.

The American Telugu Association said the students seem to be very nervous about the ramifications of the Tri-Valley University losing its SEVIS designation and with threats of deportation would be unable to pursue their education.

Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) of the Department of Homeland Security is the web based programme to track the foreign students in the US.
Until it is active, no university and academic institution can admit any foreign students to their campus.

"They are in a panic not knowing what will happen to them, their lives and their dreams. Most of the parents have invested their life dreams and sent their children to pursue higher education in US but now all their dreams have been shattered," the American Telugu Association said.

India today termed as "unacceptable" radio-tagging by US authorities of scores of Indian students and demanded severe action against those responsible for this "inhuman act"