Trump’s Visa Fee Hike Triggers Chaos, India-US Airfares Soar

US President Donald Trump suddenly raised the fee for H-1B visas to $100,000 (Rs 88 lakh) and declared that it would be effective from September 21. The sudden move sparked chaos at US airports, as many Indian techies disembarked from the aircraft, after knowing about the announcement.

With Indians accounting for nearly 70% of the H-1B visa recipients, this sudden move would hit them hard.

Usually, several Indians come home to India to take part in Durga Puja, which starts next week. H-1B visa holders who reached India, either on a vacation or on a business trip, missed the deadline, as there is no way a direct flight from India will get in time.

Those stranded in India saw a huge escalation in the cost of a direct flight to the US as airlines tried to cash in on the chaos unleashed by Trump.

According to the rule passed by Trump, H-1B visa holders should enter the US before 12.021 am (9.31 am IST) on September 21. Later, no H-1B holder will be allowed into the nation, unless the employer sponsoring them pays the $100,000 fee.

Tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft and JP Morgan have advised their employees, with H-1B visas not to leave the US. Those who are currently abroad have been asked to return to the US immediately.

In two hours of Trump’s move, a one-way flight fare from New Delhi to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York jumped to Rs 70,000-80,000 from around Rs 37,000. In a tweet, a user said: “Flights from New Delhi to NYC are currently $4,500. They are all rushing back to the states because they are worried about the new H-1B visa rules.”

At the San Francisco airport, it was complete chaos for Emirates passengers. Trump signing an order that would affect both new and existing H-1B visa holders created panic among many. Indian passengers even chose to leave the aircraft, a social media user posted.

In another incident, an international flight with many Indians from Bay Area had completed boarding. It was due to leave the SFO Airport but following the H-1B visa fee hike news, Indians pleaded to get off the plane.