University Immigration Violations

The recent news of a massive immigration racket involving visa fraud being carried out by Tri-Valley University, a California-based university, has once again reinforced the importance of doing thorough research before applying to Universities for higher education. The university was essentially operating as an illegal entry point for students.

The onus is on the students to verify the validity of their visa and the university before leaving to attend school. If the credentials are doubtful, or the student feels the university is or might be red flagged, and still continue with the admission process, then the student can be held to blame when he or she is faced with the dire consequences of not employing legal means for immigration. This is true regardless of what the student is told, or assurances being given which would enable them to bypass the legal migration process.

Duped by the Tri-Valley University authorities, which has now been shut down, hundreds of Indian students are now faced with the threat of being deported back home after having lost their student visa status and having ruined their chances of any possibility of future legal immigration.

However, it can be argued that the students are not totally blame free, innocent victims. They willfully participated in the illegal immigration racket being run by Tri- Valley and are now being investigated by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Many people want to immigrate to the United States, to settle and make a living in one of world’s largest economies. As a result, America has always seen a big rush for higher education courses, with the majority of students coming from developing Asian economies, hoping that their degree in the States will eventually help them to legally immigrate to greener pastures.

However, taking the easy route such as that run by organizations like Tri-Valley University, will eventually result in one being caught in a web of legal cases and possible prosecution. In such an event one would urgently need to locate a good immigration attorney, and if found guilty, bid adieu to his or her dreams of settling down and having a future in United States.

The modus operandi of Tri Valley was to play around the legal loop hole of F-1 visas. As a requirement for a student to acquire and maintain an F-1 visa, the student must physically attend university classes. Tri Valley instead catered mostly to online students, and illegally registered the address of the students admitted to the University on a single apartment in Sunnyvale. Upon investigation by the authorities, it was found that four university students lived at that address between 2007 and 2009, but there have been none since. However between May 2009 and 2010 the number of active students who received F-1 visas from Tri-valley University went up from 11 to 939.

The students were essentially lured by a lower fee structure and a work permit from day one and were given assurances of nothing happening to them. As a result, students goals of obtaining easy stay and work access in the United States are further away than ever – they are now facing the drastic consequences of being sent to detention centers, and might very well be deported to their home country.

We at 1800Libertad understand that it is painful to see your loved ones in court or in jail, and we provide our services to help you secure your release in the event you become involved in an immigration violation; we believe its human to make mistakes, and at the same time human to reform and move ahead in life.