India - United States Relations
- Thread starter Butter Chicken
- Start date
Texas freezes fresh H-1B visas at state colleges, agencies to protect US workers
Texas Governor Greg Abbott claims the H-1B programme has been misused to replace qualified American workers, arguing state agencies must prioritise Texans and demonstrate good-faith recruitment before hiring foreign labour.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered an immediate freeze on new H-1B visa petitions across Texas state agencies and universities, citing reported abuse of the federal programme and the need to ensure American jobs go to American workers. The Republican governor said the freeze will last until May 31, 2027.
O1 related cases like this were rare. However, there have been instances that such cases have also been reported. I was sent across yesterday.
“When I visited my family and friends in China last month, my O1 visa stamp for re-entrance was denied so it is not possible for me to return US immediately after my trip, which was unexpected and crazy. I have been studying and working in US prob like for 7 years”
“When I visited my family and friends in China last month, my O1 visa stamp for re-entrance was denied so it is not possible for me to return US immediately after my trip, which was unexpected and crazy. I have been studying and working in US prob like for 7 years”
In case you were not aware:
www.theguardian.com
These visas allow non-immigrants to work temporarily in the US. The O-1 category includes the O-1A, which is designated for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics and the O-1B, reserved for those with “extraordinary ability or achievement”.
Influencers and OnlyFans models are increasingly requesting O-1 visas: ‘This is the American dream now’
Content creators are leveraging high follower counts to apply for the visa for ‘individuals with extraordinary ability’
These visas allow non-immigrants to work temporarily in the US. The O-1 category includes the O-1A, which is designated for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics and the O-1B, reserved for those with “extraordinary ability or achievement”.
A bipartisan Congressional Delegation led by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Michael Rogers and Ranking Member Adam Smith visited New Delhi January 24–28, 2026, underscoring sustained U.S. engagement to advance defense cooperation and deepen strategic coordination with India. The delegation also included Representative Jimmy Patronis and senior committee staff.
During the visit, the delegation met with senior Indian officials, including Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar and Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The delegation also held discussions with Indian and American defense industry leaders.
Chairman Rogers said, “The United States values India as a Major Defense Partner. Our discussions in New Delhi focused on strengthening defense cooperation and advancing defense technology collaboration that supports India’s defense modernization and enhances regional stability.”
“The relationship between the United States and India is extremely important for both of our countries and the world. Our ability to conduct the kind of candid dialogue we have carried out on this delegation is crucial to strengthening our defense cooperation and regional stability, providing both economic and national security benefits for all involved,” Ranking Member Smith said.
U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor stated, “Chairman Rogers’ visit and meetings with Indian leaders and defense experts advanced practical cooperation on protecting Americans and Indians as well as people throughout the region. These discussions strengthened ongoing defense collaboration, supported India’s defense modernization goals, and reinforced our shared commitment to stability in the Indo-Pacific.”
The delegation’s meetings focused on expanding defense cooperation, accelerating defense technology collaboration, and identifying opportunities to enhance co-development and co-production between the United States and India in support of shared security objectives.
Trump Claims Deal for India to Buy Venezuelan Oil
Trump claims India has clinched a deal to buy oil from US-controlled Venezuela instead of Iran, as New Delhi stays cautious amid trade and tariff tensions.
www.deccanherald.com
I thought India stopped buying Iranian oil ages agoTrump Claims Deal for India to Buy Venezuelan Oil
Trump claims India has clinched a deal to buy oil from US-controlled Venezuela instead of Iran, as New Delhi stays cautious amid trade and tariff tensions.
, when JCPoA was repealed by USA.Exactly. I have no clue what this is about and I had to read the quote twice to re-check the country listed.I thought India stopped buying Iranian oil ages ago
This is the result that Google shows:
| 2020 | 0.00 | $0 |  Halted due to Sanctions |
| 2021 | 0.00 | $0 | Halted due to Sanctions |
| 2022 | 0.00 | $0 | Halted due to Sanctions |
| 2023 | 0.00 | $0 | Halted due to Sanctions |
| 2024 | 0.00 | $0 | Halted due to Sanctions |
Budget 2026: No funding for Chabahar port as Iran in US crosshairs
India has not allocated any funds for the Chabahar port project in its 2026‑27 Budget, reflecting caution amid renewed US sanctions on Iran.
India has significantly reworked its overseas development assistance in the Union Budget 2026-27 and, for the first time, made no allocation for the Chabahar port project, reflecting caution amid renewed US sanctions on Iran.
This INDIA TODAY cover posted by Donald Trump on his Social Media account 
I thought India stopped buying Iranian oil ages ago
Exactly. I have no clue what this is about and I had to read the quote twice to re-check the country listed.
This is the result that Google shows:
2020 0.00 $0 2021 0.00 $0 2022 0.00 $0 2023 0.00 $0 2024 0.00 $0
Here is what I think is happening:
Trump needs a public victory before he can reduce the tariffs. Can't say India will replace Russian crude with Venezuelan. That will be proved wrong very quickly & easily. So, by naming Iran he is inventing a victory where none exits. GoI is not going to correct him.
Besides Reliance's Jamnagar refinery is one of the very few facilities that can deal with very large volumes of Venezuelan sour crude. Other such refineries exist in Russia & China. For the Venezuelan regime change operation to be considered a geopolitical success the Venezuelan economy needs to get better under the US supported replacement. They will need to sell crude to anybody buying. The only 2 markets that can absorb good quantities of Venezuelan crude are China & India. Can't say regime change is a success if China remains the predominant customer.
That leaves just the one option. Venezuelan crude was sold to India before the US sanctions & when the sanctions are removed this trade would always resume. GoI is going to let Trump portray himself as some great dealmaker for making possible a trade that was always going to happen one way or the other.
Just my opinion.
I hope you look at it realistically. Mate, aside from the PRC, no one can go toe-to-toe in a trade war with the States.
I am just asking what is in it for us in this trade deal. Look at this tweet from Modi.