H1B Visa: Indian Nationals Seeking Emergency Assistance Can Call THIS Number

New Delhi: The Indian Embassy in United States has issued emergency contact number for Indian nationals who may seek assistance after the US administration's new H1B visa norms announcement.Panic gripped Indian employees working in the United States on Saturday after Donald Trump announced a major policy change, hiking the H1B visa fee from the existing $2,000–$5,000 to a whopping $100,000.This prompted companies to ask their foreign employees to rush back to America and advised those already in the country not to leave for at least two weeks.In order to help Indian nationals, the Indian Embassy took to X and issued a helpline number [phone] (also available on WhatsApp) for H1B visa holders in case they need any assistance."Indian nationals seeking

emergency assistance may call cell number [phone] (and WhatsApp). This number should be used only by Indian nationals seeking immediate emergency assistance and not for routine consular queries," the Indian Embassy in the USA posted on X.

US Tech Giants Asks Foreign Employees To Return To US By Sunday

Earlier on Saturday, big tech giants including Meta, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, JPMorgan, among many others, issued an advisory to their foreign employees, including Indians, to reach the United States by Sunday, fearing they may be denied entry once Trump's new policy takes effect at 12:01 AM on September 21.The news came as a bombshell for thousands of Indian employees who are scrambling to return to the United States on such short notice of just one day.

New H1B Visa Norms Won't Apply To Existing Holders, Says Senior US Official

While H1B visa holders were figuring out how to return to the US, a senior US government official clarified that the new visa norms won't apply to existing holders and will be applicable only to new applicants.Though this development may have come as a breather for many, people are still checking with embassies before traveling back to the US, fearing any further changes to the policy.Big tech giants including Meta, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, JPMorgan among many others issued an advisory to its foreign employees including Indians to reach United States by Sunday, fearing they may be denied entry once Trump's new policy takes effect by 12:01 AM on September 21. The news came as a bombshell for thousands of Indian employees who are figuring on return back to the United States at such a short notice of just one day. While H1B visa holders were figuring out on returning back to US, a senior US government official clarified that the new visa norms won't apply to existing holders and be applicable only for new ones. Though this development may have come as a breather for many, people are still checking with the embassies to travel back to US, fearing any new changes to the policy.

MEA Says H1B Visa Fee Will Disrupt Families, Cause Humanitarian Consequences

On Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in its first reaction to Donald Trump's new H1B visa norms said that the government was studying the full implications of the new policy adding that it is likely to cause humanitarian consequences at the cost of disrupting families.

"The Government has seen reports related to the proposed restrictions on the US H1B visa program. The full implications of the measure are being studied by all concerned, including by Indian industry, which has already put out an initial analysis clarifying some perceptions related to the H1B program," MEA statement reads. "This measure is likely to have humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families. Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the US authorities," the External Affairs Ministry said.