How A Digital Signature Can Save You Time And Money
How do you collect signatures when you manage your contracts with clients? Do you fax, e-mail, or even send via snail mail? If you are still scanning, faxing or mailing documents in order to obtain signatures, you may be able to save a lot of time by using electronic signatures.
A common worry for those who are not utilizing electronic signatures is that it may not be as good as having a hard copy. The good news is that an electronic signature has been as legally binding as a physical signature since the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (E-SIGN) Act was signed in the U.S. in 2000. And similar laws have been passed in every state, as well as in the European Union.
Hundreds of Indian students may be deported from US
PLEASANTON -- A Pleasanton university that catered to mostly online students is being called a sham by federal prosecutors who say the university was a front to illegally provide immigration status to foreign nationals.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Wednesday were at the Tri-Valley University campus on Boulder Court in Pleasanton and executed search warrants at three other properties owned by school founder Susan Su, including one in the gated Ruby Hill community.
The complaint, filed by the U.S. District Attorney's Office on Wednesday, claims Su was part of an elaborate scheme to defraud, using false statements and misrepresentations to the Department of Homeland Security.
"Since itsinception,Tri-Valley University has been a sham university, which Su, and others, have used to facilitate foreign nationals in illegally acquiring student immigration status that authorizes them to remain in the United States," the complaint reads.
According to the complaint, Su and Tri-Valley University have made millions of dollars in tuition fees for issuing the visa-related documents, enabling foreign nationals to obtain illegal student immigration status.
ICE began its investigation in May 2010. The institution received is approval to issue visas in February 2009 and had the approval for about 30 students. In May 2009 the school had 11 active students that had received F-1 visas, and 939 by May 2010.
According to the complaint, more than 95 percent of students were from India. For more than half of them, the university reported their address was a single apartment in Sunnyvale. The apartment manager told ICE agents that four university students lived there from June 2007 to August 2009 and none since.
Investigators believe TVU reported that most of its students live at the apartment to conceal they don't live in the state.
For a student to maintain the immigration status, they must show proof they are making reasonable process toward completing coursework and physically attend classes.
01/25/11
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Indian Consulate in Houston to outsource visa related services
HOUSTON: In an initiative to streamline visa services, the Indian Consulate here has outsourced the application related processes, a move that follows recent protests by the community over delays in receiving visas.
The Consulate General of India , Houston, has outsourced the handling of Renunciation Certificates, PIO and OCI applications to Travisa Outsourcing agency, which is currently handling the visa applications.
The outsourcing arrangement will come into effect on February 1, 2011 for Renunciation Certificates and PIO applications, while OCI applications will be processed by Travisa from March 15.
For smooth transition, it has been decided that no renunciation and PIO applications will be received by the Consulate from January 18 to January 31, and for OCI from February 15 to March 14, the advisory said.
Indian Passport holders, who acquired foreign citizenship before June 1, 2010, will be required to pay a fee of $20 for surrender certificate. The Passport cannot be used for travel beyond three months after acquisition of foreign citizenship, a penalty for which is minimum $250.
Read More01/20/11
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OCI and PIO cards will be merged
January 8, 2011
NEW DELHI: India has decided to merge the two visa facilitation cards that are issued to PIOs and register NRIs in the electoral rolls to let them exercise their franchise, India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Saturday.
"We recently reviewed the Overseas Citizenship of India Card and Person of Indian Origin Card. We have decided to merge them into one," the Prime Minister observed while inaugurating the Ninth Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas.
Dr. Singh said the government would soon give effect to a law that allowed Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to register themselves as voters.
01/14/11
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Overseas Indians facing visa problems can use OCI card
January 7, 2011
NEW DELHI: The ministry of overseas Indian affairs is encouraging people of Indian origin to opt for the overseas citizen of India, or OCI, card to deal with the long delays faced by Indian Americans in getting visas to travel to India.
The OCI card, which is a lifelong visa, is a solution to such delays for people of Indian origin, minister for overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi told ET on the eve of the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event in Delhi.
01/14/11
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Indian-Americans complain of delay in visa issuance by embassy
12/29/10
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American citizens can get Washington’s help for visa delays to India
12/27/10
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Consul General of India in Houston speaks with Pravasi Herald
Pravasi Herald's Kusum Singh speaks with Honorable Sanjiv Arora during his visit to Birmingham, Alabama to attend the 2010 Alabama India Business Partnership Annual Dinner on Monday, December 13, 2010. The topics covered consular services, surrender certificates, re-entry rule, role of travel agents, communication mechanism and Governor’s trade mission to India.
Visuals by Uday Karnam & Sudarshan Thopay
12/14/10
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Indian Calendar 2011
|
January |
||
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Saturday | New Year |
| 05 | Wednesday | Guru Govind Singh Jayanti |
| 13 | Thursday | Lohri |
| 14 | Friday | Makar Sakranti/Pongal |
| 26 | Wednesday | Republic Day |
| February | ||
| 02 | Wednesday | Manui Amavasya |
| 08 | Thursday | Vasant Panchami |
| 14 | Monday | Valentines Day |
| 15 | Tuesday | Milad un Nabi, Sunni |
| 20 | Sunday | Milad un Nabi, Shia |
| March | ||
| 03 | Thursday | Mahashivarathri |
| 20 | Sunday | Holi |
| 21 | Monday | Navroz |
| April | ||
| 4 | Monday | Ugadi |
| 12 | Tuesday | Ram Navmi |
| 14 | Thursday | Baisakhi |
| 17 | Sunday | Mahavir Jayanti |
| 22 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 24 | Sunday | Easter |
11/30/10
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