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Newsbeat

American Woman Rescued After Being Chained in India

American Woman Found Starving and Chained to Tree in India

An American woman was found chained to a tree and screaming in a forest in Maharashtra, India. Lalita Kayi, 50, was discovered a week ago in Sindhudurg district after locals heard her cries for help. They notified the police, who freed her by cutting off the chain.

Kayi, who was very weak, was taken to a hospital where her health has since improved. On Friday, she was moved to a psychiatric facility for further care. Kayi has told the police that her husband chained her to the tree and left her there without food or water.

Police are searching for her husband in Tamil Nadu, based on the information she provided. Despite her rescue, many details about the case are still unclear.

Pandurang Gawkar, who found Kayi, said he heard her screaming while grazing his cattle. He described seeing her leg tied to the tree and her desperate condition. Villagers and police quickly arrived to help.

Police discovered Kayi had her passport, an Indian ID card, a mobile phone, a tablet, and 31,000 rupees with her. This suggests theft was not the motive. They noted it was fortunate Gawkar was in the area, as the forest is vast and she might have remained unnoticed otherwise.

Kayi was first taken to a local hospital, then transferred to a hospital in Goa. Doctors reported she had leg wounds and appeared to have a mental health condition. On Friday, her condition improved enough for her to be moved to a psychiatric hospital in Ratnagiri.

Kayi, who speaks only English, was a ballet dancer and yoga teacher from the US, specifically from Massachusetts. She moved to India about 10 years ago to study yoga and meditation, where she met her husband. Police believe they may have had a falling out.

Kayi has been unable to explain clearly how she ended up in the forest. She initially communicated with the police and doctors by writing notes. She claimed she was tied to the tree for 40 days without food or water and was given an injection that locked her jaw.

Police are investigating her claims, including the possibility of her surviving without food or water for so long. They have filed an attempted murder case against her husband and are investigating in Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Maharashtra. The US embassy in Delhi has declined to comment on the case due to privacy regulations.

Source.

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Newsbeat

US Student Visas for Indians Hit Record, Expected Rise

Record Number of Student Visas Issued to Indians Last Year, Number Expected to Rise: US Embassy

American universities attract a large number of Indian students. Last year, the US consular team in India issued over 140,000 student visas, more than any other country, setting a record for the third consecutive year.

This year, the US consular team in India is preparing for an expected increase in applications from Indian students. A senior official from the US Embassy said that the number of visas issued in 2024 will likely be similar to or higher than last year.

On Thursday, the US Mission in India held its eighth annual Student Visa Day, with consular officers from New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai interviewing Indian student visa applicants. At the US Embassy in Delhi, a long line of students was seen since morning.

Syed Mujtaba Andrabi, acting Consul General at the US Embassy in New Delhi, mentioned that they expected to interview about 4,000 students by the end of the day. He emphasized that student visas are a top priority for the US administration and the mission in India. Last year, they issued a record 140,000 student visas and plan to continue focusing on this area throughout the year.

Regarding the expected increase in student visas in 2024, Andrabi stated it will be “similar or in excess” compared to last year.

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US envoy Eric Garcetti highlighted the high priority given to student visas, noting the lasting impact of people-to-people ties. The US Embassy reported a significant increase in the number of Indian students choosing to study in the US over the past three years. In 2023, more student visas were issued than in 2018, 2019, and 2020 combined. This growth reflects the US government’s commitment to prioritizing students and facilitating their travel despite a 400% rise in demand for other visas between 2021 and 2023.

Garcetti praised the dedicated public servants who worked tirelessly to ensure students met their deadlines and that American universities could welcome a historic number of Indian students. Andrabi added that the consular offices started the student visa season earlier this year to maximize the number of students applying.

Regarding efforts to reduce visa wait times, Andrabi said they have eliminated wait times for almost all visa categories except B1/B2 tourist visas for first-time applicants, which have also seen a 70% reduction in wait times over the past year.

David Moyer, Cultural and Educational Affairs Counselor at the US Embassy, shared excitement about the demand for student visas to the US. Currently, there are about 270,000 Indian students in the US, making up over a quarter of the total international students there.

Moyer noted that many students are choosing universities beyond the Ivy League, with over 4,500 accredited universities in the US to choose from. He encouraged more female applicants to consider US universities and emphasized the support and counseling available to help Indian students find the right match.

Source.

Newsbeat

US Embassy Tightens Visa Appointment Process for Students in India

US Embassy Tightens Visa Appointment Process for Students in India

Effective November 27, the US Embassy in India has implemented a new policy to prevent fraud and misuse in the student visa appointment system. This policy mandates that all F, M, and J student visa applicants must use their own accurate passport information when creating a profile and scheduling an appointment.

Applicants using incorrect passport details will face rejection at the Visa Application Centers (VACs). Their appointments will be canceled, and the visa fee will be forfeited.

Individuals who inadvertently used incorrect passport information can rectify the error either by creating a new profile with the correct details or by accessing an existing profile with the correct information to reschedule. However, this may require payment of a new visa fee receipt if the previous payment was linked to the incorrect passport data.

Applicants who have recently renewed their passports or obtained new ones following the loss or theft of their old passport can present a photocopy or other evidence of their former passport number and proceed with their scheduled appointment.

This new policy aims to ensure the integrity of the visa appointment system and protect applicants from potential scams or misuse of their personal information.

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