The man spent $ 8,000 on flights to return to the United States after visa fears

Rohan Mehta – Not its real name – spent more than $ 8,000 (£ 5,900) on flights in its rush to return to the United States before a deadline that would considerably increase visa costs for some.

He had been to Nagpur, India, for the birthday of his father’s death before him being short.

Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive decree adding costs of $ 100,000 (£ 74,000) for candidates for the Visa program for qualified foreign workers that US companies should pay.

Immigration companies and lawyers had already advised people on the H-1B visa which were outside the United States to return before the entry into force of the order.

A day later, the White House said it would be unique costs and would not apply to current visas holders, but it was too late for some.

India workers receive the most qualified visas from the program by far, with more than 70% of the 85,000 issued each year.

Despite the clarification published on X by the press secretary of the White House, Karoline Leavitt, the concern and the confusion had already spread.

The BBC has spoken to many H-1B visa holders from India.

Many have been working in the United States for decades.

No one wanted to be identified because they were not authorized by their employers. Many refused to talk to us completely.

Rohan Mehta, a software professional, lived in the United States with his family for 11 years, but went to Nagpur at the beginning of the month to see relatives commemorate the death of his father.

But on September 20, he said that he feared that he could not return home if he did not come back before the deadline.

He spent more than $ 8,000 (£ 5,900) in eight hours of booking and Libelt on return flights to the United States.

“I reserved several options because most of them cut her off very closely,” he said just after getting on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Mumbai to John F. Kennedy International Airport.

“Even if there was a slight delay, I would have missed the deadline.”

In its clarification, the White House said that the new costs, which represent the amount currently invoiced more than 60 times, would not be applied before the next cycle of visa requests was approved.

Rohan Mehta described the last days as “traumatic” adding that he was happy that his wife and daughter did not come to India with him during this trip.

“I regret the choices I made in life. I gave my youth first to work for this country (the United States) and now I have the impression that I am not wanted.

“My daughter has spent her whole life in the United States. I don’t know how I’m going to uproot my life from there and start again in India.”

The H-1B is a work visa program for people looking to work in the United States in specialized fields and roles. Employers can sponsor professionals to bring them into the country with a job offer required for demand.

Another visa holder who was on vacation in Europe agreed that there was confusion.

“We must not yet see how employers think and how it will take place.

“According to my understanding, the order is only for new H-1B visas. Immigration lawyers still understand it and advised us to go back.”

The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt published on X clarifying certain details, in particular that it would not be annual fees, just one-off.

She wrote: “Those who already have H-1B visas and who are currently outside the country will not be billed at $ 100,000 to return.

“H-1B visa holders can leave and get into the country to the same extent that they would normally do it.”

She added that the new costs would only apply to “new visas, not to renewals and not to the holders of current visas”.