New Delhi: As Donald Trump’s decision to impose a staggering $100,000 fee on H1-B visas triggered panic among tech giants and Indian techies, there was a calming assurance from an official of the US administration on Saturday.
“Those who are visiting or leaving the country, or visiting India, they don’t need to rush back before Sunday or pay the $100,000 fee. $100,000 is only for new visas, not existing holders,” ANI quoted the official as saying.
With Indians accounting for 70% of H1-B visa holders, many of them were alarmed by notices from major tech firms such as Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and JP Morgan which urged employees to stay put in the US, and advised those out of the country to return before September 21, 12.01 am EDT (eastern time, US).
Panicky Indians reportedly disembarked from planes minutes before take-off in the US.
Viral videos showed chaotic scenes at San Francisco International Airport, where passengers on an Emirates flight to India began disembarking before take-off amid fears they might not be allowed to re-enter into the US later.
For all those nervous techies and their families, the clarification will come as a huge relief, as the hefty H-1B visa fee will apply only to new visa petitions, and not to renewals.