Sipu Jha
BENGALURU: US President Donald Trump’s proclamation on the H-1B visa left many Indians on edge, wondering what it meant for them. Harish M, an Indian techie at a FAANG company, was on vacation in Kenya, scheduled to land in the US next week via Qatar. He touched down in Qatar on Saturday, just as the new rules were announced, and a wave of anxiety hit him. The thought of possibly being unable to enter the US made every step toward the airport feel heavier. He quickly called his organisation’s immigration team, seeking urgent guidance on what to do next. The stress was palpable as he awaited updates, every announcement from the White House amplifying the uncertainty. When the latest clarification finally came, confirming that his status as an existing H-1B holder was unaffected, Harish felt a cautious relief—a momentary breather amid the tension of international travel due to sudden policy change. “Having said that, I was told to still enter the country immediately. I had to advance my ticket to the US. The extra bucks are worth it because my visa is at stake,” he told TOI, as he waited to get on a flight from Qatar. The cost of this change was $200.
Vinay Hiremath, another H-1B holder, is in a different situation. The HPE employee came on a personal trip to India, but his wife, also an H-1B holder, stayed back in the US. Earlier, his employer advised him to return immediately, but he could not find any tickets. Hiremath is now working from India until the company receives clarity on immigration laws. “I have been asked to stay in a safe country till they tell me what to do. In any case, HPE allows me to work from a location other than the US for two months. Hopefully, by then, the Trump administration will clear the air on all our questions,” he said. Meanwhile, Google has sent out an advisory based on the White House clarification, telling employees abroad that they need not return immediately. “H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would; whatever ability they have to do that is not impacted by yesterday’s proclamation. This (proclamation), applies only to new visas, not renewals and not current visa holders,” the email read. TOI has seen the communication. Nadadur S Kumar, who founded The Law Offices of Nadadur S Kumar, said that under this administration, social media accounts of individuals are closely examined. “Under the previous govts, their conduct was looked at. Are they violating rules or being a miscreant was the major criteria to revoke the H-1B, but now what sort of an opinion they voice on social media is leading to issues with their visa,” Kumar said.
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