New Delhi: As the controversy over the radio-collaring of Indian students rages, it has emerged they were granted valid student visas and that Tri-Valley University (TVU) is listed as an approved institute by the US’s Department of Homeland Security.
The MEA is learnt to have brought these facts to the notice of US authorities who have come under flak for using ankle monitors on the students and the subsequent insensitive comments.
Designed by the US Department of Homeland Security and US Department of State, the SEVP uses web-based technology -- the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) -- to track and monitor schools and programmes, students, exchange visitors and their dependents legally enrolled in the US education system.
SEVIS also puts out a list of approved schools for the benefit of foreign students and TVU figures on it.
Located in Pleasanton, California, the university was approved by SEVP on February 17, 2009, says the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department on its website. The SEVP and SEVIS are credible tools used to check quality of institutes by foreign students keen to enroll in the US.
Officials point out that this is the first time that such a fraud has emerged in the US.
Over a lakh Indian students are enrolled across universities in the US. Most Indian students are well educated, demonstrate good learning abilities and perform well in the US institutes. Also, there are rare cases of Indian students violating US rules and regulations.
The US authorities are also particular about those applying for student visas and scrutinise applications in great detail.
That an institute like TVU could operate in the US points to a gap in the policy that allowed an allegedly one-room set-up to pose as a university and attract students from abroad.
Source: Indian Express