Breaking News:University of Northern New Jersey (UNNJ) - Fake University for F1 Visas

[shah]

DHS set up a fake University - UNNJ and actually trapped 21 agents and thousands of students are now losing their SEVIS and student visa. Student beware and know your rights. Check the video and subscribe for updates.

[shah]

Additional news - those who had already transferred to other schools are also having their SEVIS terminated. Please be careful, call us at 510 742 5887 for an individual consultation.

[Unregistered]

Additional news - those who had already transferred to other schools are also having their SEVIS terminated. Please be careful, call us at 510 742 5887 for an individual consultation.

Hi... I am student of UNNJ which I got to know is a fake university. I would like convey my views on happend incident, there is nobody who cares students in this country. I heard it was a sting operation that they established a fake university to catch visa frauds and criminal activities. Yep I agree it was a sting operation which benefited govt in catching the visa fraud borkers but what about students like me. I came to U.S with lot of aspirations to get a great education and career. I initially came on different university to U.S where I heard the rumours that was black listed so that to change the university. I applied for several universities. But some broker called me and told me about UNNJ. He told its a good university which is legally affiliated and established. He made to talk to president so I negiotiated the fees. I felt this university as good because college president talked with is an American and so I trusted him and college fee was comparitively less. When I paid my fees I got to know that there wont be any classes but I will be provided with CPT. Hence I thought CPT which is Curricular Pratical Training is a way to gain the grade legally as per the college norms.So I tried to get the job to get my CPT so that i thought I would get a good grade. So I got the job, took CPT, Worked on my CPT which is very legal as per the US Govt and so I did that. We, students never had any intensions to do anything illegal. Students never asked anybody from college to not to conduct classes. I didnt even had option to ask many questions in college. President Steve used to be arrogant. As he gave consession on my fees I never cross questioned him though I had many questions in my mind about college. I was told system in university itself is like that. I never knew that is illegal. All i knew is i would be given a CPT and thought i would gain my grade through pratical work and so I did it. Seriously we students became scape goats we never wanted to do anything illegal i dont even know if that was illegal i thought i was working legally on CPT as per govt norms. I never knew that I was a trap till yesterday. I wanted to question the govt. I had a good grading through my education back in India. It was you who created this mesh to trap students. Your brokers changed our minds we never asked any options. I dont even know till i joined in this if I have this option of not attending classes. It was undercover agents and brokers who asked us not attend the classes. We didnot do anything illegal here, we dont know apart from not attending clases as we were guided that way. We thought the unnj university norms are like that which is legal. Govt was benefitted brokers were benefitted with our money but we students who beacame scape gaots ultimately without our knowledge. We lost our career, we lost our precious span of learning. We were misguided and we became the victims to american govt and brokers. We didnot indulge in any criminal activities till date. We want to study we are scared now even if go to any university even after having affiliations. We dont know if become scape goats again. Seriously please somebody think from students perspective. We never had any intenions to do anything wrong.

[Unregistered]

Comments about UNNJ move

Hi I am student from UNNJ, I was charged by several violations to the immigration laws. I am currently living in VT far from CA, don't know whether should get legal consultation from your firm or some one in our state. Please advice if you could. Thanks.

I think it is debatable that a sting operation such as this involving many students who was transferred to this school thinking it is a legitimate school is ethical. Sure, DHS put out this operation for protecting those obeying the laws, but it is not our first intentions to break the law. I did research this school before I went there, it appears to be legitimate to me since it was even listed on NJ's government website (probably still there: http://www.nj.gov/highereducation/co...ols_alfa.shtml). The school's website, and especially its Facebook page, showing this is a small school with vibrant student and faculty. I personally went to this school. it was in that building and on the hall there a direction showing the existence of this school. All of those makes me think it is OK to be there.

Another important thing is that the school is comparatively cheap for students like me who got family issues and could afford the tuition. Although later know that the tuition was charged maybe by brokers, who I have also consulted with, saying the school is totally legitimate, at all time I was thinking paying tuition directly to the school (brokers make invoice saying the recipient is the school).

I have to admit that I don't familiar with federal laws. Nobody from the school have told me what is their policy to maintain the status (I assuming it varies between schools). With the news saying the school is opened by DHS (even USCIS) agents, who should be perfectly familiar with law and knows info about the student, they never remind single one of the student that this maybe wrong. Instead, misleading student to believe this is a OK school to draw more TARGET to the trap.

If there TARGET is the brokers, not students, the student should be fully taking the consequences of their move, and the students were actually helped them during the process.

Further more, in order to misleading more students, they even knowingly provide all documents required for H1b petition and let them eventually get it. I saw there are comment saying this would improve the H1b lottery pool, creating more opportunities to students play by the rule. First of all, I am thinking I was play by the rule. Second, they saying total of 1,076 students enrolled were affected, whereas there were 230,000 petitions filed last year. Not to mention that not all students in UNNJ filed H1b petition.

[Guest]

Need your assistance immediately, here is my scenario
1. I entered into United States of America on F-1 Visa with X university(Course: MIS) @January 2014
2. I completed my first semester from Jan 2014 – July 2014 and acquired 3.2 GPA (9 Credit) with
a. X Course – B Grade
b. X course – B Grade
c. X course – B Grade
d. X course – A Grade
e. X course (May – July) – C Grade
According to the University policies if I get one more C grade, I will be terminated from the university. I was bit confused and got into pressure, I decided to change the university from X to university Z, but at that point of time I don’t have i20 with other universities. So one of my friend/colleague the current student of UNNJ suggested me to join UNNJ, I took the admission from UNNJ @ August 2014.
3. My SEVIS got transferred to UNNJ, then I got to know it is an online education system. I was waiting to attend the classes. I waited till November 2014 then realized I got into wrong university, immediately took the CPT from the university.
a. CPT dates November 2014 – March 2015.
4. In the mean while I applied for admission to State University. I got the admit for July 2015, then I transferred to university C (state university). Currently I am pursing my masters and it is about to finish in August 2016. In between I travelled to India for vacation
a. Vacation dates : Dec 2015 – Jan 2016.
5. On 04/05/2016, I got email from university stating your SEVIS is terminated as per the instructions of HIS.
6. After speaking to ISS at Current university gave me 2 options
a. Apply for F1 Reinstatement by writing a cover letter to DHS stating what made to change into UNNJ. The university is going to provide the i20 for applying F1 Reinstatement or
b. By travelling out of US and applying for new F1 visa (on new SEVIS)
I heard Indian Embassy requested USCIS/HIS to issue admission to new universities. I am not sure whether it is correct or not.
Currently I am in a situation where I am unable to decide my – self. Please help me out to stay back in US and finish off my current Master’s degree. I need attorney help to work on the issue.
Thanks.

[shah]

If you are victim of a crime, look into a U visa

http://www.peerallylaw.com/university-northern-new-jersey-unnj/

[Guest]

I know that is conducted wrongly. As we do have much time as it will become illegal stay in the country. suggest us the best option whether to go for the Reinstatement or for new visa.

Thanks

[Unregistered]

Journalist

Hi,

If you were an UNNJ student, I'd love to talk to you and hear about how you feel you were wronged. I'm a journalist with BuzzFeed News. Send me an email at molly.hensley-clancy at buzzfeed.com — if you'd like to remain anonymous, I won't use your name. You can see the articles I've written here: www.buzzfeed.com/mollyhensleyclancy

Molly Hensley-Clancy
BuzzFeed News

[shah]

UNNJ law show - U visas and H1B

Listen to our law show on UNNJ and U visa

[shah]

Reinstatement is not a great option. Most of the time it does not work. We wrote this article on Re-instatement when we had the TVU saga http://www.peerallylaw.com/en/content/view/599

[Unregistered]

UNNJ Student's are Offender or Victim?

Additional news - those who had already transferred to other schools are also having their SEVIS terminated. Please be careful, call us at 510 742 5887 for an individual consultation.

Someone contacted me regarding UNNJ University while I was on H4 visa. I was already in process of contacting a couple of universities. Choosing UNNJ was merely a financial decision as the fee was 20-30% less than others. I was told that it is a CPT based special course and degree will be based on CPT. Consider an example if you go for shopping, you compare the prices in different stores and buy one which suits you ( In my case I buy cheap with higher features). And same I did while selecting the university less tuition with practical industry exposure. While taking admission my status was changed via USCIS and I got my SSN (via Social security office) based on the UNNJ I20 when all the process went through government agencies, there was no question of fraud.(But now I understand the trap). Back to story, Soon I started finding job, got one and started working. After taking admission I was directly talking to the school representative and president for any questions. There was a time when I asked regarding any option where I can take some classes and was suggested by President (Now I understand the special agent) to transfer to some other university. Having associated with university for more than 6 months, I had my suspicion regarding university functioning and staff. I researched some other university and took transfer but obviously it took a little time meanwhile I continued working. While transfer I was given option to get a fake certificate if I am willing to transfer my credit but I refused considering it illegal (This was the only time I used my brain). 1 month after transfer, the HSI agents came and questioned me regarding UNNJ. After hearing the story said that I might be victim. But the next day news regarding the sting operation surfaced on media. Not to mention while inquiring about university, HSI agents did not say a word about sting operation. I was called by agents and told that I am under Administrative arrest. HSI officer said to continue studying in current university till someone tells otherwise. Also told that I am out of status since I have taken admission in UNNJ. As I am out of status my current university degree will be not considered (my assumption), so why should I pay the fee. And now I am not sure how to proceed further.
But the main point is should I take voluntary departure, return to my home country and forget about coming back? And as part of voluntary departure I have to accept charges (i.e. I choose UNNJ with any malicious intention). Living whole life with a charge which I actually did not commit may be a little painful. Everyone is questioning the intension of students for choosing a university without classes. But it was told to us that this is a special degree based on practical training. I sometimes feels we were trapped by giving special offers. As immigrant and student we are not aware of the rules. And if government agencies themselves create a trap then few people are bound to find a way in it.

[Unregistered]

What next

I am another victim of this scam. I went to XYZ state university in Fall of 2008 and almost finished my degree but my advisor moved last minute and with my deteriorated health condition my financial situation went downhill. I started working on my OPT and tried to finish my degree, but with work and my health being the way it is, I just couldn't. My employer advised me to stay in status so I could continue to work. I went to one university in New York and then later transferred to UNNJ on advise from one of the agent who was working at UNNJ. They said the CPT is based on your employment. I kept asking them most universities require us to finish 1 or 2 semesters before granting CPT why not this one. They said you already have finished semesters in US so you don't need that. The fee was also very low compared to other institutes. I decided to go with it. It was Dec 2014 when i made the switch. I was very skeptical all the time. I tried to transfer but the other university wont accept my transfer. I talked to my employer at the time. Who said we will be applying for H1 soon, lets not complicate things. I went ahead with the decision. UNNJ provided all paperwork for RFE. Got H1 approved with out I94. But I decided to move to a different employer at the time and one more round of H1 application and RFE. I stayed in status through out and finally got my H1b w/o my I94 sent to me on March 5th, 2016. I was planning to go to India for stamping as soon as possible and was about to book my tickets when i heard the news. I am shattered to say the least. I feel cheated and irritated at my own stupidity. I had my H1 approved and hoping for a better life after I get married to my Fiancee. I am planning my next course of action. I feel like fighting this, I wonder if there is any advantage in waiting to see how this turns out. I understand I cannot continue to work anymore. Being from a middle class family in india is not helping at all. Next option is to just give up and take voluntary deportation. But I really don't feel like leaving my fiancee. I don't know if there is any long term advantage in considering voluntary deportation. Not to mention I have credit card debts and loans to pay. It would be nice if I could talk to someone going through the same.

[shah]

What is next is either fight or just go. Make sure before signing anything you have an attorney check the Voluntary Departure. If you signed you are guilty it is an admission.

[Unregistered]

hey dude

hey, i'm also in similar situation.. i would like to talk to you.. please email your contact to [email protected]

I am another victim of this scam. I went to XYZ state university in Fall of 2008 and almost finished my degree but my advisor moved last minute and with my deteriorated health condition my financial situation went downhill. I started working on my OPT and tried to finish my degree, but with work and my health being the way it is, I just couldn't. My employer advised me to stay in status so I could continue to work. I went to one university in New York and then later transferred to UNNJ on advise from one of the agent who was working at UNNJ. They said the CPT is based on your employment. I kept asking them most universities require us to finish 1 or 2 semesters before granting CPT why not this one. They said you already have finished semesters in US so you don't need that. The fee was also very low compared to other institutes. I decided to go with it. It was Dec 2014 when i made the switch. I was very skeptical all the time. I tried to transfer but the other university wont accept my transfer. I talked to my employer at the time. Who said we will be applying for H1 soon, lets not complicate things. I went ahead with the decision. UNNJ provided all paperwork for RFE. Got H1 approved with out I94. But I decided to move to a different employer at the time and one more round of H1 application and RFE. I stayed in status through out and finally got my H1b w/o my I94 sent to me on March 5th, 2016. I was planning to go to India for stamping as soon as possible and was about to book my tickets when i heard the news. I am shattered to say the least. I feel cheated and irritated at my own stupidity. I had my H1 approved and hoping for a better life after I get married to my Fiancee. I am planning my next course of action. I feel like fighting this, I wonder if there is any advantage in waiting to see how this turns out. I understand I cannot continue to work anymore. Being from a middle class family in india is not helping at all. Next option is to just give up and take voluntary deportation. But I really don't feel like leaving my fiancee. I don't know if there is any long term advantage in considering voluntary deportation. Not to mention I have credit card debts and loans to pay. It would be nice if I could talk to someone going through the same.

[Unregistered]

Please help me

Almost same situation like the one who commented below,

Need your assistance immediately, here is my scenario
1. I entered into United States of America on F-1 Visa with X university(Course: MIS) @January 2014
2. I completed my first semester from Jan 2014 – July 2014 and acquired 3.25 GPA (9 Credit). After I heared about UNNJ and did a research by looking at the website and spoke with admissions, everything was good and UNNJ was listed in one of accredited universities list, by looking at that and the way the college convinced students about education over there in UNNJ was pretty impressive and I transferred to UNNJ in Aug 2014 and was waiting for the classes to start and reached admission department about the classes and courses but didn't get proper response from them and when I realized everything in the university was not pretty good as I expected and decided to transfer and it took sometime for me to get an admission in another accredited university and once I got the admission I moved from UNNJ right away to another accredited university and Studying all the courses in this by paying and following university policies and attending classes and have good GPA and I am about to finish my masters in a month and Graduating in May 2016

Note : I didn't take CPT from UNNJ ( the reason I joined there to study after I realized about the coursework(No classes & No courses) at UNNJ I moved to another university to study.

On 04/05/2016, I got email from university stating your SEVIS is terminated as per the instructions of HIS.

Currently I am in a situation where I am unable to decide my – self.

Please help me out to stay back in US and finish off my current Master’s degree. I need attorney help to work on the issue.
Thanks.