Washington:
US authorities have approved the transfer of 435 Indian students of the Tri-Valley University (TVU) to other institutions, indicating some progress in addressing the plight of nearly 1,800 Indian students affected by its closure.
They were among more than a thousand students, who were being considered for transfer to other universities, US officials told Indian embassy representatives on Friday during a meeting to discuss the issues relating to Indian students of the allegedly "sham" California-based university.
They also informed the embassy that 145 Indian students were denied transfers and about an equal number were issued with Notices of Intention to Deny (NOIDs). The remaining cases of transfer are still under examination, according to an Indian embassy press note.
The cases of Indian students have been examined individually after evaluating all the information provided by the students, officials said and advised that students who have received NOIDs should reply to the notices in stipulated time with required / additional information/documents.
Officials of the State and Homeland Security departments as also United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and its investigative arm Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attended the meeting.
Indian officials in turn impressed upon US officials that the Indian students of Tri-Valley University have undergone hardship since the closure of the University and that their cases should be viewed with understanding.
The Indian embassy is continuing its efforts with US authorities for addressing the plight of TVU students, the press note said.
In another positive development, sources said, US officials had also assured that in case anybody decides to opt out of the transfer process and go back to India and apply afresh from there , their cases would be considered on the basis of the quality of the fresh applications without any reference to the TVU situation.
TVU president Susan Xiao-Ping Su, 41, was indicted in May by a federal grand jury on allegations of visa fraud and money laundering to the tune of $3.2 million by issuing visa-related documents to students in exchange for "tuition and fees".
Some 85 percent of TVU students were Indian, mostly from Andhra Pradesh.