• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

A panic wave hit Indian travellers on Saturday when US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that levied an incredible USD 100,000 charge on fresh H-1B visa petitions. The sudden action generated confusion among H-1B visa applicants and holders, many of whom were planning to travel between India and the United States.

The fallout was hardest felt on an Emirates flight to India, where panic erupted just seconds before takeoff. According to video streamed by passengers on social media, several Indians chose to leave the plane, fearing they would be banned from returning to the US under the new policy.

In one of the videos, passengers had been standing in the aisles, some furiously scrolling through their phones, others gazing uncertainly around them. The captain, speaking to the cabin, recognised the "unprecedented circumstances" and offered passengers an option to get off.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain. In light of the current extraordinary situation, we realise some passengers no longer desire to proceed with their flight. That's perfectly okay, but if you'd like to disembark, now is your chance," he stated.

ALSO READ: From Mines To Medicine: How Ukraine’s 'Robots On Wheels' Are Changing Face Of Modern Warfare

Flight Delayed By Three Hours

NDTV and Hindustan Times reports later confirmed that the haphazard deplaning caused the flight to be delayed by over three hours as ground personnel struggled to handle the offloading of passengers and re-checks. The unusual mid-flight exit demonstrated how strongly the new visa fee policy resonated with Indian professionals, many of whom constitute the backbone of the US tech workforce.

The H-1B visa scheme, widely used by Indian IT professionals, engineers, and other professionals, has long been a political hot potato in Washington. Trump's action in imposing a USD 100,000 application fee was quickly described as unprecedented, eliciting both diplomatic and legal reactions.

India Raises Concerns

India's Ministry of External Affairs was concerned, saying that the charge "is likely to have humanitarian implications through the disruption caused for families." The ministry further commented that it expects that "the disruptions can be met appropriately by the US authorities."

ALSO READ: Who Is Inderjit Singh Gosal? Canada Arrests Khalistani Terrorist, Aide Of Pannun In Ottawa

The White House later clarified that the new fee is for new applications of H-1B alone and not renewal. However, the announcement has already prompted general panic, and Indian professionals are hurrying to understand the implications.