• Herguan University Visa Fraud, 450 Indian students in Trouble

    The fate of Herguan University in Sunnyvale, Calif. is uncertain after its CEO was arrested and charged with 15 counts of visa fraud on Thursday, according to The San Jose Mercury News.

    Herguan University Visa Fraud, 450 Indian students in Trouble

    Jerry Wang, 32, is alleged to have lured international students to his unaccredited school by using fraudulent documents to obtain visas. Notably, Herguan's 450-member student body consists overwhelmingly of foreign students from India.

    The crimes could land him a 23-year prison sentence and cost him more than $1 million in fines.
    The indictment poses a serious threat for the university's international population. If the school closes, these students will either have to rapidly transfer to a new university or return to their home countries without a degree.

    While not accredited, the university operates three masters programs with approval of the California Department of Consumer Affairs' Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, which does not accredit universities.

    Last year, the president of Tri-Valley University Susan Xiao-Ping was arrested for also submitting fraudulent documents in order to admit international students on student visas. An investigation revealed that Su was charging students tuition but not requiring them to attend class, and students were actually spread out across the nation.

    The Chronicle of Higher Education reported last year that Tri-Valley was exploiting loop-holes in visa laws to make millions from a boom in international higher education.

    Information for Herguan University Students

    Based on federal regulation, Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified schools are subject to a review of their certification at any time.

    On Aug. 2, pursuant to a review of Herguan University's certification, an SEVP representative served Herguan University school officials with a notice of intent to withdraw the school's SEVP certification and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) access.

    Herguan University nonimmigrant students have two choices:

    1. Continue to attend classes, or continue to work at the job for which they were authorized Optional Practical Training, and maintain their active status in a manner required by regulations, or
    2. Transfer to another SEVP-certified institution.
    If Herguan University students cannot attend classes and maintain their active status in a manner required by the regulation, or if they are unable or do not wish to transfer to another SEVP-certified institution, they must depart the country without prejudice within seven calendar days.

    Temporarily, school officials will not have access to SEVIS. Therefore, they cannot manage nonimmigrant students' records in SEVIS. Herguan University nonimmigrant students should contact SEVP just as they would contact their designated school official to report any changes. This needs to occur so that students' SEVIS record and Form I-20 can be updated accordingly.

    Once a Herguan University school official has access to SEVIS, school officials can recommend nonimmigrant students conduct a change of status, but nonimmigrant students must notify U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) about their change of status. Also, nonimmigrant students must also file a Form I-539 to change their nonimmigrant status with USCIS.

    Nonimmigrant students who have questions about their options should call the SEVP Response Center at (703) 603-3400. This number is staffed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), Monday through Friday.
    Students who call the SEVP Response Center should be prepared to provide the following information:

    1. First and last name
    2. SEVIS ID number
    3. Address
    4. Telephone number where you can be reached
    5. Email address
    6. Dates of attendance at Herguan University
    7. Educational level and major of study at Herguan University
    Comments 2 Comments
    1. souravzzz's Avatar
      souravzzz -
      Dear friends, always check, double check and triple check everything before leaving you country.
    1. RNarayanan's Avatar
      RNarayanan -
      Education has become a BUSINESS world-wide! Pathetic! People, be awake all the time!
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