By Jasleen Kaur

Copyright ptcnews

PTC Web Desk: A surprise decision by US President Donald Trump to increase the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 (around Rs 88 lakh) with an immediate deadline of September 21 has triggered chaos across airports in the United States. The announcement has left many Indian technology professionals scrambling to make last-minute travel plans, while some even disembarked from aircraft after learning about the new rule.The directive states that no H-1B visa holder will be allowed entry into the US after 12:01 am EDT (9:31 am IST) on September 21 unless their sponsoring company pays the hefty revised fee.Major tech companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, and JP Morgan, have already instructed their employees not to leave the US under any circumstances. Those currently abroad were advised to return immediately before the deadline.Immigration experts say that several Indian H-1B holders who had travelled home for Durga Puja holidays or business purposes have likely missed the deadline, given that no direct flights from India could reach the US before the cut-off time.“H-1B visa holders currently outside the US face being stranded. Unless they managed to land before midnight, there is no way to avoid the new rule,” explained Cyrus Mehta, a noted US immigration attorney.The sudden order has also impacted flight prices. Within hours of the announcement, a one-way ticket from New Delhi to New York (JFK) surged to Rs 70,000–Rs 80,000, compared to the earlier fare of around Rs 37,000. Some travellers reported tickets touching $4,500 (Rs 3.7 lakh) as panic bookings increased.Chaos was visible at US airports as well. Social media users described scenes of confusion and disruption. At San Francisco International Airport, a passenger posted on Facebook that his Emirates flight was delayed by more than three hours.The move is expected to create serious disruptions for thousands of skilled Indian workers, who make up the largest share of H-1B visa holders in the US.