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AI bars 19 US-bound students

Published On : 22 Dec 2015


Dec 21 (PTI): Air India last night barred 19 Indian students from boarding a flight to San Francisco from Hyderabad, saying it had been told by the US authorities that the two universities to which they had secured admission were under "scrutiny".

"Air India received communication on December 19, 2015, from the US Customs and Border Protection agency that two universities namely Silicon Valley, San Jose, California, and North Western Polytechnic College, Fremont, CA, are under scrutiny and students who arrived into San Francisco were not allowed to enter the US and were deported back to India," an Air India statement said.

The airline has decided not to accept students headed to these universities till it gets clearance from its US office.


It has offered full refund and said that once clearance is received, it will accommodate the students on its flights at no additional cost.

The statement said so far 14 students who travelled on Air India flights to San Francisco have been deported.

US consulate officials in Hyderabad said they were trying to gather information on the incident. "We are indeed aware of the reports that some students were denied entry on the flights to the US. At this time, we don't have any further information to share with you on this particular issue, but we are seeking clarity on the situation. As soon as we have new information, we will get back to you immediately," an email reply from the US consulate said.

Deepak, one of the 14 deported students, said they had been issued valid visas.

"If the universities were blacklisted, why did they issue us the visa?" he asked.


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