Passengers on a crowded plane were observed rushing to exit the aircraft after learning that the cost of foreign visas had been significantly increased to £74,000 by Donald Trump. At the San Francisco airport, just before an Emirates flight was due to depart for Dubai, multiple travelers attempted to leave due to concerns about incurring the fee if they returned to the US after the September 21 deadline.
Confusion arose regarding the fee structure when Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick initially indicated it would be an annual charge, but the White House later clarified it as a one-time payment. The visa types affected by the hike are the H-1B visas, which cater to highly educated foreign professionals. Notably, existing visa holders are not impacted by the new restrictions.
Masud Rana, who captured the incident on video, described the situation as causing a three-hour delay. Despite the usual protocol of not allowing passengers to disembark once boarded, the pilot made an exception due to the unprecedented circumstances.
In a social media post, Rana highlighted the panic among passengers, especially those from India, triggered by the order signed by President Trump affecting H-1B visa holders. The announcement led to travel disruptions across the US, with many foreign workers rushing to return before the deadline.
H-1B visas are crucial in attracting highly skilled foreign workers to fill specialized roles in the US, particularly in computer-related industries. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 60% of these visas are granted to individuals in computer-related fields.
Regarding re-entry for existing H-1B visa holders, Leavitt confirmed that those currently outside the country would not face the hefty re-entry fee. The ability for H-1B visa holders to enter and leave the US remains unaffected by the recent proclamation.