New Delhi, March 22, IRNA - More than 1,800 Indian students were affected by the immigration fraud by the American varsity, Tri-Valley University (TVU) which was shut down in January last year, the government said.

'More than 1,800 Indian students were affected by this (immigration) fraud perpetrated by the TVU.

As per statistics furnished by the US authorities, 766 cases of Indian students of the TUV were approved for transfer to other universities, while 480 cases are pending for scrutiny and 281 were denied transfer,' pti reported quoting Minister of State for HRD D Purandeswari said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, (Lower House of Indian Parliament).

The Minister also noted that the government has taken up the issue very seriously with the US in order to protect the interests of the Indian students there.

'The government has strongly conveyed to the US agencies that the students, themselves a victim of fraud, should not be penalised and help responsible for the violations committed by the University,' Purandeswari said.

'India has also requested that there should not be mass termination of visas of the affected students so that they do not go out of status and the affected students should be given adequate time for transfer to other universities or voluntarily return to India without prejudice,' she said.

The Minister also informed the House that the Embassy of India at Washington is keeping in touch with the US Department of Homeland Security to ensure that the pending transfer cases of Indian students of the San Fransisco-based university are considered in a sympathetic manner.