Zero tolerance for students who violate U.S. laws, says Consul General Laura Williams  

To be an international student is a privilege and that comes with responsibilities. Qualifying for a U.S. student visa includes demonstrating an intent to comply with U.S. laws, newly-arrived Consul General Laura Williams stressed on Monday.

Inaugurating the 2025-EducationUSA universities fair here, she expressed happiness at the student turnout, their interest in varied disciplines and to study in the U.S. “The institutions in this room here today offer world-class programs across every field — from STEM and business to humanities and the arts. Studying in the U.S. is a major commitment, an investment of time, money and effort,” she said.

“Qualifying for a U.S. student visa includes demonstrating an intent to comply with U.S. laws. The United States has zero tolerance for people, including students, who violate the law,” Ms. Williams added.

The EducationUSA fair series began on August 9, covering Chennai and Bengaluru. Concluding on August 17, the fairs are scheduled to take place in New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Pune.

The fair on Monday drew diverse groups of students with interests in undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programmes in the U.S. The fair had at least 30 accredited U.S. universities and colleges offering various programmes and schemes.

Ms. Williams noted that EducationUSA provides accurate, comprehensive and unbiased information to help students choose the right university and navigate the application process with confidence. All services by EducationUSA advisers and U.S. Consulate officials are offered free of cost.