Students from India urged to 'exercise due diligence' before taking admission in US varsities

THE Indian Embassy urged students from India to "exercise due diligence" before taking admission in US universities.

This advisory comes just months after more than 100 Indians landed in trouble for enrolling at a fake educational institution set up by US authorities to expose immigration fraud.

Students have been asked to take into account a number of factors before taking admission.

"Does the university function from a campus or merely maintains a website and has administrative premises only? If not, such universities are not to be regarded as a bonafide educational institution and admission into such universities should be avoided," the advisory said.

"Does the university have a faculty and regular instructors/educators? If not, admissions to such universities should be avoided. It may be noted that such universities typically employ only administrative staff and their websites have no information in respect of faculty.

"Does the university have a proper curriculum, hold regular classes and actively implement academic or educational activity? If not, admissions to such universities may be avoided."

The advisory noted that students admitted to such universities may be subjected to detention and deportation from the US even if they hold a regular student visa.

In January, US authorities arrested 129 Indian students for enrolling at a fake university allegedly to remain in the country. The University of Farmington was a bait used by federal agents to cats immigrants misusing their F1 visa status.

The F-1 visas are a type of non-immigrant student visa that allows foreigners to pursue education in the United States.