Work visa holders stuck in India desperately seek to reach the U.S using multiple options

Indian Americans who got stuck in India due to travel restrictions, seek alternative ways to reach the U.S however difficult it may be, reports said.

According to the new U.S guidelines, only American citizens, permanent residents and students can directly enter the U.S from India now.

However, there are thousands of Indians who are holding work visas such as H1B and L1 have been desperately trying to reach the U.S. But as per the new rules they cannot directly travel from India to the U.S.

Many have opted national interest exception (NIE), which allows people who fall in different critical infrastructure categories such as banking and health care to reach the U.S. But getting NIE status has become a long task. So many work visa holders are trying now staying in a third country for at least 14 days to reach the U.S.

According to the new guidelines, the U.S is accepting non-immigrant Indians who stayed in a third country not on a COVID travel ban list for at least 14 days.

It is the second wave of Covid-19 spread that made Indian Americans stranded in India.

Many of them had reached India for emergency purposes.

However, On April 30 President Joe Biden confirmed that there would be new travel restrictions on India.

Since then work visa holders have been waiting to lift the ban to travel to the U.S.

Many have opined that choosing a third country and staying there for 14 days is hard for them. Most of them are preferring the Maldives, Turkey, Mexico or Serbia as third country to stay and spending a large amount for air ticket and accommodation.

Moreover, many fear whether they get stuck in the third country too if the U.S put ban on these countries if the Covid-19 rates increased.

Many are travelling to the U.S to seek the extension of the visa as it were about to expire soon.