Washington D.C. - Recent announcements from American agencies have put foreign nationals in the United States on alert as they can permanently lose their visas and face lifetime bans on re-entering the country for criminal acts or breaching U.S. immigration policies. The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has been the most proactive in communicating this information and has made it clear that U.S. visas are issued based on one’s merit and adherence to the laws/framework of the U.S. The core of the advisory stems from the fact that any participation in criminal activities while in the U.S or outside will bear extreme immigration consequences. This applies to all forms of violence including but not limited to, assault, domestic violence, burglary and theft. The consequences are visa-revocation and permanent ineligibility to reapply. There is a clear shift in policy as Washington intends to tighten immigration and is focusing on foreigners.Visa Revocation: If the holder of a visa engages in criminal acts or violates the terms of the visa, the visa can be revoked. Moreover, the visa will automatically be revoked if the holder overstays the visa, even for a single day.Restrictions on Re-entry: Restrictions on re-entry can be severe, particularly when there is a failure to adhere to the designated time frame for staying in the country. There is a 3 year ban if the overstaying period is 180 days to less than a year. Moreover, there is a 10 year ban if the individual overstays for more than a year. Such bans are commonly termed as “unlawful presence” bars.Deportation: Engaging in serious legal issues or staying on a visa for longer than the permissible time period can heighten the likelihood of being subjected to deportation or removal proceedings.Loss of Eligibility for future visas: The person becomes permanently ineligible for future visas to the U.S. if there is criminal activity or overstays, irrespective of the fact whether the existing visa is cancelled when the individual is outside the U.S.Department of Homeland Security agents and consular officials can cancel visas on the basis of procured fraud, misrepresentation, or fraud eligibility of a candidate after the visa has been issued. It is critical for all non-immigrants in the U.S. to know that abiding by all U.S. laws and immigration regulations is qualifying for their status and their visas. U.S. visa cancellation; foreign nationals U.S. visa advisory; visa revocation reasons USA; consequences of U.S. visa overstay; permanent visa ban USA; U.S. immigration law violations; U.S. embassy New Delhi visa warning; criminal activity U.S. visa status; deportation for visa violation; U.S. visa privileges not rights; U.S. visa overstay penalties; unlawful presence U.S. visa; visa ineligibility U.S.; U.S. immigration enforcement; impact of arrest on U.S. visa; crimes leading to visa cancellation; U.S. visa cancellation notice; what happens if U.S. visa is cancelled; re-entry ban after visa revocation; and staying legally in the U.S.
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