Flight fares from India to the United States soared dramatically on Friday after President Donald Trump announced a steep hike in the H-1B visa fee to USD 100,000 (around Rs 88 lakh), leaving many Indian tech workers scrambling. Reports emerged of H-1B holders deboarding aircraft mid-journey, as confusion and concern spread across international airports.
The new rules mandate entry into the US before 12.01 am EDT on September 21 (9.31 am IST), or face the hefty visa surcharge. Indians account for roughly 70 per cent of all H-1B visa recipients, making them the most affected by the sudden change.
Top technology firms, including Amazon, Microsoft, and JP Morgan, have urged their employees not to leave the US. Those currently abroad, many visiting India for Durga Puja festivities, faced a race against the clock to meet the deadline.
"H-1B visa holders who are out of the US on business or vacation will get stranded unless they get in before midnight September 21. H-1Bs still in India may have already missed the deadline as there is no way a direct flight from India will get in time," said Cyrus Mehta, a US immigration attorney.
Flight fares spiked almost overnight. A one-way ticket from New Delhi to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York climbed to Rs 70,000-80,000 from roughly Rs 37,000, reflecting the scramble of travellers trying to beat the deadline. Social media users reported fares reaching $4,500 for some flights.
Also read: No US entry for H1B staff without 100K fee from Sunday
The reaction at US airports was equally chaotic. At San Francisco International Airport, Emirates passengers faced over three hours of delays, with several Indian H-1B visa holders opting to deboard after learning of the new regulations. "It was complete chaos for Emirates passengers at San Francisco airport. President Trump signed an order affecting both new and existing H-1B visa holders, creating panic among many – particularly Indian passengers – who even chose to leave the aircraft," wrote Masud Rana on social media.
Similarly, Kaustav Majumdar, a chartered accountant, described panic aboard a flight from the Bay Area bound for India. "Extremely sad situation... An international flight packed with Indians from Bay Area had completed boarding and was due to leave SFO Airport. When the news about H-1B visa new rules just broke out, Indians aboard panicked and pleaded to get off the plane," he tweeted.
Passengers at Dubai International Airport also witnessed scenes of confusion, with at least 10–15 H-1B holders deboarding within 20 minutes of hearing about the September 21 cut-off.
With the deadline fast approaching, airlines and airport authorities have urged travellers to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport, while immigration experts caution that missing the cut-off could leave H-1B workers stranded.
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