Chaos erupted at San Francisco International Airport on Friday as Indian passengers panicked over the H-1B visa fee hike announced by US President Donald Trump. Emirates flight to India was delayed by three hours after several passengers got off the plane just before take-off.
Videos shared on social media showed passengers standing in aisles, scrolling phones, and looking confused. The captain asked passengers to leave the flight if they preferred, calling the situation “unprecedented.”
Trump’s order raised the H-1B visa fee to $1,00,000, causing fear among new and existing visa holders. He claimed the program was being exploited to replace American workers with cheaper labor.
Tech giants like Microsoft and Meta instructed H-1B employees not to leave the US for at least 14 days. Employees currently abroad were urged to return within 24 hours to avoid re-entry issues.
The White House later clarified that the $1,00,000 fee is a one-time charge only for new applicants. Current visa holders and renewals are not affected.
Despite the clarification, the incident highlighted the anxiety among Indian professionals over sudden changes in US immigration policies and its impact on travel plans.
