NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Sept 20: Panic and confusion have gripped thousands of Indian H-1B visa holders in the US after President Donald Trump imposed a USD 100,000 fee on work visas, prompting many to cancel Diwali and wedding travel plans to India.
The announcement came late Friday through a presidential proclamation, just weeks before Indian professionals typically travel home for festivals, weddings, and year-end holidays.
“There’s a crazy sense of panic right now,” one H-1B visa holder told PTI on condition of anonymity, describing the situation as “worrying and unclear.”
Many Indian families scrapped travel plans at the last minute, some even while waiting to board flights. Those already in India are scrambling to return to the US amid uncertainty over whether re-entry would be affected by the new fee rules.
The move impacts a large segment of Indian tech professionals, as India accounts for nearly 70% of H-1B visa holders in the United States. Immigration experts warn the fee hike could deter talent mobility and strain India-US tech ties.