President Donald Trump’s initiative to elevate the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 and enforce a strict September 21 deadline triggered widespread disorder at US airports. Multiple Indian tech workers reportedly chose to leave their flights immediately following the announcement. This period also aligned with the return of many Indian residents from the US to India to celebrate Durga Puja. Moreover, those stranded in India witnessed direct flight costs to the US increase significantly, with airlines taking advantage of the chaos instigated by Trump. The regulations required H-1B visa holders to enter the US before 12:01 am EDT (9:31 am IST) on September 21, or their sponsoring employers would have to pay the $100,000 fee. Reported figures indicate that a one-way ticket from New Delhi to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York surged to Rs 70,000-80,000 from approximately Rs 37,000 just a couple of hours after Trump’s announcement. The effects of the changes were clearly visible at US airports, with numerous passengers exiting flights.
