A user on X said the Emirates flight from San Francisco to Dubai was delayed by three hours after many visa holders cancelled their travel plans.
Several Indian passengers reportedly deboarded an Emirates flight bound for India just before take-off at San Francisco International Airport, causing a three-hour delay.
A wave of panic swept through H-1B visa holders following US President Donald Trump’s sudden announcement on Friday of a massive increase in the visa application fee to $100,000 (approximately ₹88 lakh). The new fee took effect from September 21, 2025, leaving many workers and companies scrambling to act quickly.
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A passenger on board the Emirates flight shared videos on social media showing people leaving the aircraft amid fears they would not be allowed to return to the US.
In the video, passengers are seen standing in the aisles while others scroll through their phones, appearing confused about whether or when the flight would depart. Another video captures the Emirates captain addressing passengers, saying:
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain speaking. Due to the current circumstances, which are obviously unprecedented for us here at Emirates, we are aware that a number of passengers do not wish to travel with us, and that’s perfectly fine. All we ask is that if you wish to offload yourself, please do so now.”
Users who posted the clip on social media described the scene as chaotic, saying panic had gripped many, particularly Indian passengers. Another social media user on X said the Emirates flight from San Francisco to Dubai was delayed by three hours after many visa holders cancelled their travel plans.
Airports across the US witnessed chaotic scenes as news spread, with many passengers, especially Indians travelling for the festive season, caught unawares and opting to leave flights.
Viral videos showed H-1B visa holders queuing at airports worldwide, rushing to return to the US before the deadline. One TikTok user reportedly claimed at least five people on her flight disembarked after their employers issued warnings over fears they would be barred from re-entry.
Major tech companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and JP Morgan advised their H-1B employees not to leave the US, urging those abroad to return immediately to avoid being stranded.
Flight fares surged dramatically after the announcement. According to reports, one-way tickets from New Delhi to New York’s JFK airport nearly doubled, rising from around ₹37,000 to ₹70,000–₹80,000 within hours.
Trump defends the hike
President Trump defended the fee hike, saying the programme was initially designed to bring “temporary workers into the US to perform additive, high-skilled functions, but it has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labour.”
A senior White House official later clarified that the $100,000 fee is a “one-time” charge applying only to new applicants selected in the February lottery who are currently outside the US. The order does not apply to current H-1B holders or those who participated in the 2025 lottery.
So far, neither President Trump nor the White House has announced any extension to the deadline.
Published: 23 Sept 2025, 10:52 am IST
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