Indian students went to US with valid visas

New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): As the fate of Indian students duped by American university in California hangs in the balance, New Delhi hopes that the US authorities will treat the students well and accommodate them suitably in appropriate academic institutions, as they went for studies with 'valid student visas'.

Hundreds of Indian students, mostly from Andhra Pradesh, are facing the prospect of deportation from the US after authorities raided and shut down Tri-Valley University in the Silicon Valley on charges of massive immigration fraud.

"We are in touch with the US authorities and our concern is the welfare of the students, I hope they are treated well by the authorities," top government sources said.

Earlier on Thursday, a group of around 35 students from the banned Tri-Valley University (TVU) met Consul General of San Francisco Sushmita Gongulee Thomas in this regard.

India is seeking factual position from the US Government on the status of these students and how these students can be helped in transfer to the other colleges, so that they can complete their studies.

The students are worried over media reports media that indicate that all students of the TVU were part of the scam.

Many of the Trans Valley University students, specially the more recent ones and some who got transferred from other accredited universities, were unaware of the true nature of the university and have suddenly become the victims.

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. As many as 95 percent of these students are Indian nationals, the complaint said.

Investigations by Immigration and Custom Enforcement found that while students were admitted to various residential and on-line courses of the university and on paper lived in California, but in reality they 'illegally' worked in various parts of the country as far as Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

India sends more than one lakh students and is the second largest student community in United States. (ANI)