Finding Our Way Through This

For Indians building a life in America, immigration news is rarely abstract. One announcement can raise questions about a job, a pending application or the next trip to India, and soon afterwards about what to tell parents at home. We are writing because two announcements this week have caused that kind of worry, and because careful information helps more than speculation.

The news deserves attention, and some developments may affect individual plans. The families, friendships and work that people have built here deserve the same care. It is possible to take the news seriously, meet every legal responsibility and still go on with life here with some confidence.

What this week's announcements cover

In a release dated October 9, 2026, the US Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General announced an investigation into potential fraud in the J-1 visa programs of nine universities. The same release announced a Visa Fraud Strike Team, a multi-agency effort that will focus on H-1B and J-1 programs. [1] An investigation does not establish wrongdoing by every student, scholar or employee connected with those universities.

News outlets and law firms have also reported that on October 8, officials announced a suspension of the PERM labor certification program for several technology and IT employers. PERM is the Labor Department's labor certification for employer-sponsored green cards. As of October 12, the Labor Department had not posted a written notice on its foreign labor certification announcements page. [2] Employees of the companies named in those reports should take their questions to the employer's immigration team and to their own attorney.

For any announcement, three questions help: whom it covers, which process it concerns, and whether it is a proposal, an investigation or a rule already in force. Another person's experience cannot answer those questions for your own file.

Your own status and records

Before a job change, travel abroad or a family decision, written information about your own records matters more than general news.

The expiration date on a US visa does not decide how long you may stay. The State Department explains that your admission record, Form I-94, shows how long you were admitted for, either as a specific date or as "D/S" for duration of status. [3] If the record is unclear, or a later approval may have changed it, have it reviewed.

Federal rules allow a nonimmigrant to work only as their classification or a specific grant of permission allows, and unauthorized employment is a failure to maintain status. [4] Extra work, a second job or a changed role at the same employer should be checked against your own authorization before it starts.

Keep your notices, approvals, I-94 records and a timeline of key dates together, so that any consultation starts from the documents. Where there is a mistake or a complicated history, asking for help early carries no shame. Employers and university international offices can explain matters within their own roles, and urgent matters need prompt attention. Careful conduct cannot prevent every delay, policy change or unfair experience, but it gives you a responsible way to respond.

Choosing legal help

Immigration legal advice should come from a licensed attorney in good standing or from an accredited representative working through a recognized organization. The Justice Department states that notarios, document preparers, immigration consultants and travel agents are not allowed to practice law. [5]

The Federal Trade Commission warns that nobody can guarantee a green card or citizenship, that there is no special access, and that you should not sign blank forms. [6] Keep a copy of everything you sign or submit, including forms prepared with someone else's help. Bringing your notices, an accurate timeline and your questions to a consultation makes it more useful.

Safety and reporting

Calm should never mean accepting mistreatment or ignoring danger. In an emergency, call 911. The Justice Department asks people who believe they were the target of a hate crime to contact local police and then the FBI. It also notes that not every hate incident is a crime, and that incidents can be reported to its Civil Rights Division. [7]

Another person's wrongdoing is no judgment on anyone's nationality, and one encounter does not describe the people around us. Avoiding an unsafe confrontation and seeking help are sensible choices.

What we can offer each other

Before sharing a post or a video, check its date, location and context. A proposal, an investigation and a rule in force are different things, and so are an abusive post, a single incident and evidence of a national trend. Respect other people's privacy, and when a mistake has been shared, correct it with a source.

Some families will stay in America, and others may reconsider their plans after advice. Both choices deserve an understanding of the options and responsibilities, and respect from the rest of the community.

SOS Global Indians can point readers to official information and resources. We cannot decide anyone's immigration status or promise an outcome, and professional advice has its own place.

We cannot know what the next announcement will bring. We can be careful with our own decisions and generous with each other. We hope this community remains a place where a worried person can ask for help and receive accurate information, without another frightening prediction or a lecture.

The SOS Global Indians Family

General information, not legal advice. For decisions about your own case, consult a qualified professional. Announcements and instructions can change. In immediate danger, call 911.