Passengers in a state of panic hurriedly exited a crowded airplane upon hearing news that Donald Trump had significantly increased fees for foreign visas to a staggering £74,000. At San Francisco airport, several travelers attempted to disembark an Emirates flight bound for Dubai just moments before departure. Concerns arose among passengers that if they left the US and returned after the specified deadline of September 21, they would be subject to the exorbitant fee.
The confusion stemmed from conflicting statements by the Administration regarding the nature of the fee. Initially, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested it would be an annual fee, but the White House later clarified it as a one-time charge. The affected visas were the H-1B visas, a temporary category for highly educated foreign professionals. Notably, individuals already holding these visas were unaffected by the new regulations, rendering the passengers’ distress unnecessary.
Masud Rana, who documented the incident, reported that the chaos resulted in a three-hour delay. Typically, passengers are not permitted to deplane once boarding is complete, but the pilot made an exception due to the “unprecedented” circumstances. The captain addressed the passengers over the intercom, acknowledging the situation and allowing those who wished to exit the aircraft to do so.
Rana described the scene as “complete chaos” in his social media post, noting that the order signed by President Trump caused alarm among H1B visa holders, particularly Indian passengers, some of whom opted to leave the aircraft. The announcement and ambiguous information led to travel disruptions across the US, with many foreign workers rushing to return to America before the deadline.
The H-1B visa program attracts skilled foreign workers to fill positions in the US that domestic workers may not be able to fulfill. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 60% of these visas are granted to individuals working in computer-related fields. Leavitt clarified that existing H-1B visa holders currently outside the US would not be required to pay $100,000 for re-entry, emphasizing that their ability to enter and exit the country remains unaffected by the recent proclamation.
