Man spent $8,000 on flights to get again to the US after visa fears

[ad_1] Rohan Mehta - not his actual title - spent over $8,000 (£5,900) on flights in his scramble to get again to the US forward of a deadline that may dramatically enhance visa charges for some.

He had been in Nagpur, India for the anniversary of his father's demise earlier than he reduce his journey brief.

On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an govt order including a $100,000 (£74,000) charge for candidates to the visa programme for expert overseas staff which US-based corporations must pay.

Firms and immigration attorneys had already suggested these on the H-1B visa who have been exterior the US to return earlier than the order got here into pressure Sunday.

A day later, the White Home clarified it will be a one-time charge and wouldn't apply to present visa holders, however it was too late for some.

Employees from India obtain by far probably the most expert visas within the programme, at greater than 70% of the 85,000 issued annually.

Regardless of the clarification posted on X by White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, concern and confusion had already unfold.

The BBC spoke to many H-1B visa holders from India.

Many have been working within the US for many years.

None wished to be recognized as they weren't authorised by their employers. Many refused to talk to us totally.

Rohan Mehta, a software program skilled, has lived within the US along with his household for 11 years however had travelled to Nagpur initially of the month to see family commemorating his father's demise.

However on 20 September, he mentioned he feared he wouldn't be capable to return to his residence if he didn't get again earlier than the deadline.

He spent over $8,000 (£5,900) in eight hours reserving and rebooking return flights to the US.

"I booked a number of choices as a result of most have been chopping it very shut," he mentioned simply after he had boarded a Virgin Atlantic flight from Mumbai to John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport.

"Even when there was a slight delay, I would have missed the deadline."

In its clarification, the White Home mentioned the brand new charge, which is greater than 60 instances the quantity presently charged, wouldn't be enforced till the subsequent spherical of visa functions was permitted.

Rohan Mehta described the previous couple of days as "traumatic" including he was glad his spouse and daughter had not come to India with him on this journey.

"I am regretting the alternatives I've made in life. I gave the prime of my youth to working for this nation [the US] and now I really feel like I am not wished.

"My daughter has spent her total life within the US. I am unsure how I will uproot my life from there and begin throughout in India."

The H-1B is a piece visa programme for individuals trying to work within the US in specialised fields and roles. Employers are capable of sponsor professionals to get them into the nation with a job supply required for the appliance.

In response to authorities statistics, the best beneficiary of the programme the earlier fiscal yr was Amazon, adopted by tech giants Tata, Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google.

One other visa holder who was on vacation in Europe agreed there was confusion.

"We're but to see how employers are pondering and the way this can play out.

"From my understanding, the order is just for new H-1B visas. Immigration attorneys are nonetheless figuring it out and have suggested us to return."

White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X clarifying some particulars together with that it will not be an annual charge, only a one-off.