Sun, 21 Sep 2025

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 I spent $8,000 to get back to US after fears over Trump visa deadline

US officials later clarified current H-1B holders were unaffected but immigration lawyers already advised people to return.
A $100,000 (£74,000) fee added by President Donald Trump's executive order on Friday sparked a scramble among H-1B visa holders from India, with many rushing to return to the US before the deadline. Rohan Mehta spent over $8,000 (£5,900) booking multiple flights in an attempt to beat the deadline, which was meant to drastically increase fees for skilled foreign workers. The order would have forced companies to pay a $100,000 fee per applicant, with many fearing it would be impossible to afford. However, on Saturday, the White House clarified that the fee is one-time and only applies to new visa applications, not current holders. Despite this clarification, confusion and concern still linger among H-1B visa holders from India, who make up over 70% of the 85,000 skilled visas issued each year. Many have been working in the US for decades and fear that they will be affected by the new policy. Rohan Mehta, a software professional who has lived in the US with his family for 11 years, described the last few days as "traumatic" and expressed regret over having to leave behind his life in the US. The H-1B visa program allows skilled workers from abroad to work in the US, and major companies such as Amazon and Microsoft have benefited greatly from the program. However, the new policy has sparked concern among employers and employees alike, with many still unsure of how it will affect them.
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