Internet users across Pakistan may experience slow speeds and service disruptions on January 15, as scheduled maintenance work is set to take place on one of the country’s international submarine internet cables. The advisory was issued by major internet service providers, including Nayatel, which informed customers that an unavoidable maintenance activity will begin at around 2:00 PM and could continue for up to eight hours, potentially affecting connectivity nationwide. In a notification shared with subscribers, Nayatel said the work involves one of Pakistan’s submarine cables — critical infrastructure that carries international internet traffic into the country. While the company did not specify which cable is undergoing maintenance or the exact location of the issue, it warned that users may face noticeable internet slowness during the repair window. When to Expect Slow Internet According to the advisory, disruptions are expected during peak usage hours: Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026 Time: Approximately 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM During this period, users may encounter slower browsing speeds, buffering while streaming videos, higher latency in online gaming, and interruptions in video calls or large data transfers. Why Submarine Cable Maintenance Matters Submarine cables form the backbone of Pakistan’s international internet connectivity. Any maintenance or fault at the upstream provider level often requires traffic to be rerouted through alternate links. While this prevents a complete outage, it can lead to congestion, increased latency, and reduced speeds for end users. ISPs typically attempt to manage traffic during such periods, but limitations in available backup capacity mean that some level of disruption is often unavoidable. Recent Context Raises Concerns The planned maintenance comes shortly after a major internet slowdown earlier this month. On January 1, 2026, users across Pakistan reported widespread connectivity issues caused by problems at an upstream internet provider. That disruption lasted for more than 48 hours, impacting businesses, freelancers, and digital services nationwide. If internet speeds are again affected on January 15, it would mark the second instance in two weeks of degraded connectivity — highlighting Pakistan’s heavy reliance on a limited number of international submarine cables. What Users Should Do Internet service providers have advised customers to plan critical online tasks accordingly. While a complete blackout is not expected, users relying on stable connections for work, education, or business operations may want to schedule essential activities outside the affected hours where possible. ISPs say services should gradually stabilize once maintenance work is completed.
Marriage to a US citizen is no longer a guaranteed route to a Green Card
A Permanent Resident Card commonly known as a Green Card allows immigrants to live and work permanently in the United States and places them on the pathway to eventual citizenship. While Green Card holders do not enjoy all the rights of US citizens, they are entitled to many key legal and social protections. For decades, marriage to a US citizen has been viewed as one of the most reliable ways to secure permanent residency. Under US immigration law, the spouse of an American citizen qualifies as an “immediate relative”, making them eligible to apply for a Green Card through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). However, immigration attorney Brad Bernstein says that legal marriage alone is no longer sufficient. Speaking in a recent social media video, Bernstein—who has more than three decades of experience and practices at the Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein—said marriage-based applications are now being examined far more aggressively. Authorities, he explained, are focused less on marriage certificates and more on whether couples genuinely live as spouses. “Being married does not get you a Green Card,” Bernstein said. “Living together gets you a Green Card.” Cohabitation under intense scrutiny Bernstein cautioned that couples who are married but live separately face a high risk of denial. According to him, USCIS officers give little weight to explanations such as work, education, finances or convenience. “Immigration officers don’t care why you live apart,” he said. “They only care whether you actually share a home as husband and wife.” Under current enforcement practices, a marriage is considered bona fide only if the couple maintains a shared residence and daily life together. Failure to do so, Bernstein warned, often triggers deeper investigations, tougher interviews and, in many cases, outright rejection of the application. “If spouses are not living together full-time, the case is already in trouble,” he said, urging applicants in such situations to seek legal advice before filing. How USCIS assesses ‘good faith’ marriages USCIS evaluates marriage-based Green Card cases by examining the “totality of the relationship,” rather than relying solely on documents or addresses. Officers look for evidence that the marriage was entered into in good faith, with a genuine intent to build a life together. Under USCIS policy, a marriage may be legally valid yet still denied if officials determine that the couple had no real intention to live together and entered the union primarily to bypass immigration laws. Part of a broader immigration crackdown The tougher approach reflects wider immigration measures under President Donald Trump, whose administration has tightened several legal immigration pathways. These steps have included suspending the Diversity Visa Lottery, which previously offered up to 50,000 visas annually to applicants from underrepresented countries. USCIS has also shortened the validity period of work permits for Green Card applicants to 18 months and ordered a sweeping review of permanent residency holders from 19 countries previously labelled “countries of concern.” The increased oversight follows a series of violent incidents involving Green Card holders, which the administration has cited as justification for stricter enforcement. For prospective applicants, immigration experts say the message is clear: marriage alone is no longer enough. Proving a shared life—under one roof—has become central to securing a marriage-based Green Card.
