US President Donald Trump’s sudden decision to raise the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 (Rs 88 lakh), with a strict implementation deadline of September 21, has triggered chaos at airports worldwide. Several Indian H-1B visa holders reportedly deboarded flights immediately upon hearing the news, fearful of missing the new rules.
The move comes just ahead of Durga Puja, when many Indians working abroad return home. Airlines responded by sharply increasing fares on direct India-US flights, with one-way tickets from New Delhi to New York jumping from Rs 37,000 to Rs 70,000-80,000 within hours.
Tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and JP Morgan have advised employees holding H-1B visas not to leave the US. Those abroad face uncertainty, as any entry after 12.01 am EDT on September 21 will require employers to pay the $100,000 fee.
Immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta warned that H-1B holders currently in India may already be unable to meet the deadline. Passengers at airports in San Francisco and Dubai reportedly panicked, with multiple Indians deboarding flights to ensure compliance with the new rules.