At the AI Summit in Washington DC on 23 July 2025, President Trump took a dig at American tech giants for hiring workers from India. However, American conglomerates continue to welcome Indian-origin leaders to the C-suite. In July itself, two Indian Americans entered the elite club of Indian-origin CEOs in the US: Ketul J. Patel as CEO of Wellstar Health System and Gagan Singh as CEO of Blackpoint Cyber. Now Shailesh Jejurikar is ascending the hotseat of CEO at Procter & Gamble whose several brands are household names in America, India, and other countries.

Who is Shailesh Jejurikar, next CEO of Procter & Gamble?  

The first Indian CEO of Procter & Gamble in its 187-year-history, Shailesh Jejurikar was born in Mumbai ands schooled in Hyderabad. Like Deloitte’s former CEO Punit Renjen, he has had an illustrious career for 36 years at P&G, from an assistant brand manager in India in 1989 to CEO in 2026. He will take over as CEO and President of Proctor & Gamble in January 2026. Currently, he is the Chief Operating Officer for P&G’s Enterprise Markets.

Shailesh Jejurikar’s journey from humble beginnings, which he once descried as “pretty much in the middle of nowhere” outside Mumbai to P&G’s global headquarters in Cincinnati is a remarkable story of American Dream.

Shailesh Jejurikar to head P&G as CEO amid challenging times

Business leaders across the world, including Anand Mahindra from India, have hailed his appointment as CEO as one of the best decisions for and by P&G to navigate the challenging times. P&G, the world’s largest consumer goods maker (by market capitalization) with a revenue of US$ 84bn in 2024, has been seeing a linear sales graph amid economic headwinds spurred by the Middle East conflict, the US-China trade tensions, rising production overheads, volatile pricing in key markets, and likes. P&G’s April-June quarterly report forecast a dip in consumer sentiment, annual sales and revenues.

Given the current juncture, steering Procter & Gamble’s next phase of growth would be a litmus test to Shailesh Jejurikar’s leadership and business acumen. However, leading business analysts are sanguine that his profound understanding of both developed economies and emerging markets would be a driver for P&G’s sales growth. “P&G people, our brands, and our capabilities in innovation and operational excellence fuel my confidence for a future of sustained growth and value creation,” said P&G’s new CEO Jejurikar while sharing the news of his promotion.

P&G CEO Shailesh G. Jejurikar’s net worth

Shailesh Jejurikar’s net worth is estimated at $40-50 million (combining his salary, P&G shares, stock investments, and other notable assets). Unlike Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and few other Indian American CEOs, he is not yet among the billionaire immigrants in the US. His salary as CEO of Procter & Gamble may boost his net worth and catapult him to Forbes’ 2026 list of richest Indian-origin CEOs.

Procter & Gamble CEO Shailesh Jejurikar’s Education

His academic profile ranges from the prestigious Hyderabad Public School where Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was his classmate, to IIM Lucknow. In eighth grade, he joined Hyderabad Public School, a cradle of CEOs and business leaders including Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen and MasterCard CEO Ajay Banga, after his family shifted to Hyderabad from Mumbai. Other than Nadella, Soumya Chakravorty, MD of Deloitte’s SAP Offering, and V. Navender, Tesla’s former Chief Information Officer were among his batchmates at the Hyderabad school.

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The US visa interview update July 25, 2025 is that the Department of State eliminates the Dropbox renewal option for all non-immigrant visa categories, except B1/B2 visa holders on certain conditions. “All nonimmigrant visa applicants, including applicants under the age of 14 and over the age of 79, will generally require an in-person interview with a consular officer, effective September 2, 2025,” according to the revised US visa policy for non-immigrants from India and other countries.

It seems to hint at further revision of the Dropbox eligibility or potential elimination of in-person interview waiver for H, L, F, M, and J visa categories. The US visa interview update July 25 follows the February 2025 revision of the Dropbox eligibility criteria wherein the nonimmigrant visa expiration window was reduced to 12 months from 48 months. The previous update continued to grant visa interview waiver (Dropbox) to children under 14 years and senior citizens aged 80 or older.

On or before September 2, the Department of State will specify nonimmigrant visa categories that may be eligible for in-person interview waiver or Dropbox renewal.

Who are eligible for US Visa Interview Waiver, Dropbox in 2025

• B1/B2 visa holders renewing a full validity within 12 months of the prior visa’s expiration given they were at least 18 years old at the time of the prior visa issuance.
• Mexico nationals renewing a full validity of Border Crossing Card (Foil card or laser visa) within 12 months of the prior visa’s expiration
• B1/B2 visa holders must apply for Dropbox renewal in their country of nationality or residence
• They have never been refused a visa nor do they have apparent or potential ineligibility.
• The same conditions apply to Mexico citizens for Border Crossing Card Dropbox eligibility

What about H1B visa holders with Dropbox appointments in 2025?

Dropbox appointments in September 2025 onwards may be cancelled if the US visa interview waiver update July 25 blanketly targets H1B visa holders and others in’ H’ visa categories. It is too early to say anything until the next update – whether in-person interview is mandatory for H1B renewal and other non-immigrant visas.

H1B visa holders with Dropbox appointments in India feel puzzled wondering if they have to book in-person interview slots. It is natural for them to panic, because all Dropbox appointments were annulled when the February 8, 2025 update was rolled out.

If you have already booked your travel to India for Dropbox appointments in September or October 2025, it is recommended you contact your travel agent or the airline for possible rescheduling options. If not, you can avail flight discounts now and book budget flight tickets to India from USA in August or September.

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Changi Airport layovers for international transit passengers, especially between USA and India, are going to be a lot more exciting. Starting 1 August 2025, the airport is offering 2.5-hour guided trips to Sentosa Island for free – a new addition to the Singapore sightseeing tour under the Changi Transit Program. A trip to Sentosa Island near the southern coast of Singapore is not just scenic, it is enlightening because the island housed British military and served as a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp previously.

Eligibility requirements for free Sentosa Discovery Tour, Singapore 

Changi Airport’s free Sentosa Island Tour starting from 1 August 2025 is open to all transit and transfer passengers. Irrespective of your travel origin and final destination, you can book a 2.5-hour guided tour for Sentosa sightseeing from Changi Airport if the layover time and period in your itinerary align with the tour schedule. No matter you are flying from the US, India or any other country via Singapore, you need to fulfil the below eligibility criteria for free Sentosa Island trips during transit.

• You must have a Changi Airport layover of 5.5 hours and not exceeding 24 hours
• You must register yourself and book the free tour online in advance
• You must report 90 minutes prior to the tour schedule
• You must have a valid passport, boarding pass, and tour booking confirmation
• Your connecting flight must be scheduled after 11.30 pm SGT (Singapore Standard Time)
• You may need a Singapore transit or entry visa

Do Indians need a visa for Changi Airport’s Free Sentosa Island Tour?

Singapore is one of the visa-free countries for US visa holders. Since Singapore’s 96-hour visa-free transit facility is available for Indians with a valid visa from the US, the UK, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Germany, or New Zealand, they don’t need to meet any visa requirement for free Singapore Sentosa Island tours. This is a great addition to the Free Singapore Tour for international transit passengers including Indians.

How to book free tours to Sentosa Island in advance?   

It is easy to book free Sentosa Island sightseeing tour, and you can pre-book online through the official Changi Airport website, up to 50 days before your travel date. If you don’t get a chance to pre-register, don’t worry, walk-in registration is also available. However, it operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s best to book online in advance.

Free Sentosa Discovery Tour: Timings and airport registration

Changi Airport’s Free Sentosa Island tour timing is 7 pm to 9:30 pm SGT. The tour is conducted once a day, in the late evening. The airport registration for the tour is available at Terminal 2 (transit area, near Gate F50) and Terminal 3 (transit area, near gates A1 to A8). For airport registration, you need to report at the Free Singapore Tour booth, at least, 90 minutes before the tour schedule.

Things to see on Free Sentosa Island Tour: Key attractions

One of the most visited tourist places in Singapore, Sentosa Island houses laid-back beaches, sensory gardens, swanky resorts, etc. Changi Airport’s free Sentosa Discovery tour itinerary begins with panoramic views of Singapore’s southern coastline before it takes you to Resorts World Sentosa, a 49-hectare premier resort with hotels. Here, you can spot the famous Universal Studios’ rotating globe, see Singapore Oceanarium, and explore Adventure Cove Waterpark.

The next stop on the itinerary is the stunning Sentosa Sensoryscape, an immersive 350-meter walking trail through six themed sensory gardens between Resorts World Sentosa and the beach-front area. it blends nature with light, sound, and technology to offer a unique, multi-sensory experience that Singapore is known for.

The 2.5-hour guided tour of Sentosa Island takes you to Siloso Beach, known for its tropical charm, beach clubs, water sports, and vibrant coastal life. Dotted with scenic spots for photography and Insta-worthy selfies, Siloso Beach makes you wonder how this island transformed into a British military outpost into a leisure destination.

If Changi Airport’s free Sentosa Island tour ends early, you can pay to experience Wings of Time: Fireworks Symphony – Singapore’s daily firework show at Siloso Beach. This night show is a mesmerizing spectacle of music, laser lights, fireworks, and water jets. This add-on to the free tour is optional and ticketed. You can buy the ticket during the tour.

FAQs: Free Sentosa Island Trips during a layover in Singapore

Can I book the Free Sentosa Tour if I’m not flying with Singapore Airlines?

Yes, you can. This Changi airport layover tour is not limited to transit passengers of Singapore Airlines flights, but open to all airlines flying to and from Singapore. As long as you meet the requirements for a free sightseeing trip to Sentosa Island, you’re welcome regardless of airlines.

Can I book this tour through Indian Eagle Travel while purchasing my international flight tickets?

Free Singapore layover tours, including the new Sentosa Island tour, can only be booked through the website of Changi Airport, though Indian Eagle books stopover packages for Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, and Bahrain at unbeatable rates. Exclusive phone-only flight deals and best stopover packages are just a call away (+1800-615-3969).

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Indian Passport’s ranking has improved on the Henley Passport Index 2025. It has moved up to the 77^th rank from the previous 85^th position, enabling Indians to visit 59 countries visa-free or with a visa on arrival. Certain countries offers visa on arrival or visa-free entry to Green Cardholders and valid US visa holders. Evidently, Indian Passport when backed with a valid US visa stamp or a Green Card exerts more power and influence at international levels.

Check out what countries Green Cardholders and Indians on US visas can visit in 2025 and 2026 without applying for a visa in advance:

Visa-free Countries for Green Cardholders and US Visa holders

Singapore: 96-Hour Visa-Free Transit

Among visa-free countries for US Green Cardholders and Indians with a valid US visa, Singapore offers 96-hour visa free transit for guided city sightseeing tours. Since the Free Singapore Tour is available only for passengers of Singapore Airlines flights, many US visa holders and Green cardholders among Indians take advantage of the visa-free transit facility while traveling between USA and India through Changi Airport. The US visa stamp on your Indian passport must be valid for 30 days or more from your arrival in Singapore.

Qatar: Visa-free Doha Stopovers

Among visa-free countries for Green Cardholders and US visa holders, Qatar offers visa-free Doha stopovers to passengers of Qatar Airways flights. Qatar’s visa waiver for Indian passport holders from India and the US is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance at Doha’s Hamad International Airport, given they have a passport with minimum 6-month validity, confirmed return flight tickets, and confirmed hotel booking in Doha.

You can call Indian Eagle’s customer helpline +1800-615-3969 for phone-only budget flight deals of Qatar Airways from USA to Doha, or US to India via Doha. You can call the same number to explore Doha stopover packages and the best deals available at Indian Eagle.

Mexico: Visa-Free for 180 Days

Mexico is one of the countries that offer visa-free entry to Indians with Green Card or a valid US visa. You can stay visa-free in Mexico for up to 180 days. Cancun in Mexico is a most popular beach getaway for Indians in the United States. Just make sure your US residency permit or visa is valid at the time of entry to explore Mexico cities and beaches without any visa hassles.

Peru: Visa-Free for 180 Days

Peru is among the visa-free countries for Green Cardholders and US visa holders with Indian passports. You can stay in this South American country for up to 180 days in a calendar year. Minimum 6-month validity of your US visa is a must for visa-free entry to Peru from the time of arrival. Whether hiking to Machu Picchu or soaking in the charm of Lima is your travel goal, the US visa or Green Card makes it easier for Indians to visit Peru without a visa.

Philippines: Visa-Free for 14 Days

The Philippines offers visa-free entry to US Green Cardholders and US work visa holders among Indians. In addition to visa-free entry to Manila, you can holiday for up to 14 days. Your visa-free stay in the Philippines can be extended once for another 7 days. In certain cases, Indian passport holders don’t need a US visa to travel visa-free to Philippines, but they must present confirm return flight tickets, proof of accommodation, and financial documents.

Thailand: Visa-free Entry

Among visa-free countries for Indian passport holders, Thailand is the most welcoming destination in Asia. Irrespective of your US visa status or validity, you can visit Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days. Starting May 2025, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is mandatory for all inbound foreign travelers for legal entry into the country. to be filled online at least 3 days prior to your scheduled arrival in Thailand, the digital form replaced the old paper form and includes a healthy declaration too.

Bahamas – Visa-Free for 30 Days

Bahamas makes island travel easy for Indian passport holders with a valid US visa or Green Card. You don’t need a separate visa to enter, as long as your US visa is multiple-entry and has been used at least once to travel to the US. You can stay up to 30 days in the Bahamas visa-free, soaking in its beaches and clear blue waters. Just make sure your passport is valid for at least six months at the time of entry.

Visa-on-arrival Countries for Green Cardholders and US Visa Holders

UAE Visa-on-Arrival for Dubai and Abu Dhabi Stopovers

The United Arab Emirates tops the list of countries that offer visa on arrival to US Green Cardholders and Indians with a valid US visa. The UAE visa on arrival for eligible Indians is issued for 14 days of stay, which is extendable for additional 14 days for a nominal fee. The visa-on-arrival entry to the UAE has been expanded to Indians holding valid visas or legal residency permits from not only USA and Canada, but also Singapore, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand. Your Indian passport and Green Card or US visa must be valid for 6 months from the date of arrival at Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Indian Eagle, the most trusted travel-booking partner for Indians in the US, has the best deals for Dubai tour packages and ‘Visit Abu Dhabi’ tour packages, in addition to exclusive phone-only flight deals from Emirates and Etihad Airways. Indian Eagle’s air-ticketing and tour-planning team is available at +1800-615-3969 (24/7).

Oman: Visa-on-arrival/e-Visa for 30 days

The Oman visa on arrival for Green Card holders and eligible Indian citizens come for 30 days. Like other visa-on-arrival countries, Oman requires Indian citizens to hold a valid visa from the UK, Canada, the UK, Japan, or Schengen countries. Return flight confirmation and hotel reservation are pre-requisites for visa-on-arrival entry to Oman.

Sri Lanka: Visa on Arrival with ETA for 30 Days 

Among the visa-on-arrival countries for US Green Cardholders and Indian citizens without a US visa, Sri Lanka grants 30-day visa on arrival through an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) online. It is simple and hassle-free. Sri Lanka’s visa-on-arrival requirements include your passport with 6-month validity, return or onward flight tickets, proof of accommodation, and financial support documents.

Bahrain: Visa on Arrival for 30 Days

In the Gulf region, Bahrain is on the list of countries offering visa on arrival to Indians with a US Green Card or visa. You can stay in this beautiful island country for up to 14 days on a single-entry visa or up to 30 days on a multiple-entry visa. Starting October 2025, Gulf Air flights from New York to India will make it easier for US visa holders and Green Cardholders to get Bahrain’s visa on arrival for a stopover. A 6-month valid passport, return or onward travel booking confirmation, accommodation proof and sufficient funds are mandatory.

The booking of customized tour packages in all these visa-free countries for Green Cardholders and Indians on US Visas is just a call away at Indian Eagle! Call our trusted travel advisors at +1800-615-3969 for budget-friendly stopover tour packages for family and individuals, as well as discounted phone-only flight deals.

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The post List of Visa-on-Arrival or Visa-free Countries for Green Cardholders and Indians with valid US Visas appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

You can now earn $50 discount on flight tickets from USA to India for your winter holiday travel. Indian Eagle, the most trusted air-ticketing partner for Indians and Americans for 18 years, is up with a flight discount giveaway contest on social media. It is simple and interesting! Just play and win Indian Eagle coupon code for airfare discounts.

The Indian Eagle flights discount coupon giveaway is basically a fun quiz that we will hold on Instagram for 10 days and Facebook for the next 10 days in August 2025. Interested participants from the US need to answer simple questions, like “Which US airport is the busiest in the world?” in few words. One winner will be selected every day; it means 20 winners in 20 days. They can redeem $50 discount coupons to save more on cheap Indian Eagle tickets from major airlines.

Indian Eagle discount giveaway participation rules: 

• You must reside in the US
• You must have minimum 150 followers on Instagram (if you chose to participate on Instagram)
• You must have minimum 150 friends/followers on Facebook (if you choose to participate on FB)
• You must follow Indian Eagle on Instagram or Facebook
• You must comment ‘I am in’ on the giveaway post pinned on our Instagram page
• You must tag at least one friend in the comments section of the giveaway post 

$50 Discount Giveaway winner selection criteria 

The first respondent to the quiz will be selected as winner of the day only if his/her answer is correct and complete. For instance, Atlanta/ATL airport/Hartsfield is incorrect and incomplete answer to “Which US airport is the busiest in the world?” The complete and correct answer is Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport.

In case the first respondent’s answer is incorrect and/or incomplete, the second respondent will be declared winner based on the same criteria. We will directly message the winner on social media and the winner must respond to our direct message.

The next day we will officially announce the winner on Instagram and Facebook. The winner is required to share the post on their social media pages to claim Indian Eagle’s discount coupon code.

What is the timeline for the US-India flights discount giveaway?

The giveaway would run on Instagram from 4 to 13 August 2025, and on Facebook from 15 to 24 August 2025.

Can you participate in the travel discount giveaway more than once?

Yes, you can do until you become a winner during the 10-day quiz on Instagram and the next 10-day quiz on Facebook. If you happen to win the quiz once in the 10-day period on Instagram, you won’t be able to participate again on Instagram or Facebook.

Can your family member participate in the giveaway if you win the quiz on Instagram or Facebook?

Yes, a family member of yours can do only if he/she meets the above-mentioned participation criteria. But more than one discount coupon worth $50 won’t be redeemed on one travel booking, either one-way travel or round trip. To redeem two flight discount coupons, you must make two reservations separately on IndianEagle.com. or, you can redeem one coupon and your family member (the other member) can redeem the other coupon awarded to him/her.

What other terms of use apply to redeeming Indian Eagle’s flight discount coupons online?

The other ‘terms of use’ applicable to redeeming the $50 discount coupons will be officially communicated to the winners via an email.

The post US-India Flights Discount Giveaway: Grab $50 Coupons to Save More on Your Travel first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post US-India Flights Discount Giveaway: Grab $50 Coupons to Save More on Your Travel appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

After the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash in June, netizens are googling – what is the best and safest aircraft in the fleet of Air India? The Tata airline placed multibillion-dollar orders for 570 new aircraft from both Airbus and Boeing. Only six brand-new A350-900 planes have joined the fleet so far, while the first B787-9 from the Boeing order will be delivered soon. Since December 2024, Air India has been operating A350-900 flights without complaints. Our customers’ reviews on Air India’s A350 travel experience adjudge this aircraft as the best and safest in the fleet.

A350-900: Best and Safest Aircraft in Air India Fleet

Currently, A350-900 is not just the newest but also the best and safest aircraft in Air India fleet for long-haul flights, to say between USA and India. Few aircraft can rival Airbus A350, a most advanced, widebody jet which is even bigger than Boeing 787 Dreamliner. A350-1000 is longer than the latest Dreamliner variant, B787-10. At present, six A350-900s are operational for Air India flights from New Delhi to New York JFK, Newark EWR, and London Heathrow.

Not only Air India, but also its partners and rivals are cashing in on either or both variants – A350-900 and A350-1000. Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways are leading operators of A350 flights. Among top 10 airlines that fly from USA to India, Emirates received its first A350-900 in January 2025, with more 64 A350-900 planes to be delivered. 47 A350-900 and 1000s will be delivered to Lufthansa Group Airlines by 2031. Air India’s domestic rival IndiGo is expecting delivery of 40 Airbus A350 planes starting mid-2027 for its international expansion plans.

What makes A350 the best aircraft in Air India fleet

• Lightweight Structure: Over 70% of its airframe is made from titanium, aluminum, and composite materials, making the aircraft lighter and stronger.
• Fuel Efficiency: Uses up to 25% less fuel than older wide-body aircraft, reducing emissions and operating costs.
• Sleek Aerodynamics: The 64.75 m wings with morphing technology improves lift and lowers drag during flight.
• Engine: Equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB, the most efficient large aero-engine today, delivering high reliability, modular maintenance, and fuel savings.
• Airspace Cabin: Features the quietest twin-aisle cabin in its class, wide seats, larger windows, straight sidewalls, high ceilings, and spacious overhead bins for enhanced comfort.
• Optimized Cabin Environment: Maintains a comfortable cabin altitude of 6,000 feet with air renewed every 2–3 minutes through HEPA filtering.
• Advanced Lighting: Full LED ambient lighting supports customized lighting scenarios (e.g., sunrise/sunset), which help reduce passenger fatigue and jet lag.
• Connectivity & Entertainment: A350 was the first aircraft delivered with in-flight connectivity, offering high-speed satellite Wi-Fi, plus high-definition IFE, with screens up to 13″ in economy—on entry into service.

Air India A350 Economy Class

The A350-900 has improved the way Indians from the US used to travel in Air India’s Economy cabins until December 2023. The aircraft ticks all the boxes for your elevated comfort on Air India’s economy class flights to Delhi from New York, Newark, and London. The A350-900 economy cabins feature 264 cushioned seats in a 3-3-3- configuration, each offering 31-inch pitch, 17.5-inch width, 6-inch recline, and adjustable headrests for added support during long journeys.

Air India’s A350 economy class has seats equipped with a 12-inch HD touchscreen featuring the Panasonic eX3 entertainment system, loaded with over 2,200 hours of content. The airline provides screen-free audio content for kids on A350 flights. It has increased the comfort quotient for economy class passengers seeking Indian Eagle flight deals.

Air India A350 Premium Economy

Air India’s Premium Economy cabins on A350-900 planes offer a value-for-money experience. If sophistication of flying, comfort at 40,000 feet, and budget flight deals are your priority, the A350 Premium Economy is the best bet for your intercontinental travel. It has 24 super cozy seats with 38-inch pitch, 18.5-inch width, 8-inch recline, and four-way adjustable headrests for customized comfort. Arranged in a 2-4-2 layout, the seats have comfortable leg rest with a foot paddle.

The above is why Air India’s A350 Premium Economy is a preferred choice for elderly parents’ travel from India to USA for much less than business class tickets. The seats come with a 13.3-inch HD touchscreen, USB-A charging, universal power outlets, and personal reading lights. Priority check-in and early boarding are among the perks, in addition to TUMI amenity kits and upgraded dining on premium tableware.

Air India A350 Business Class: Luxurious Private Suites

What makes A350-900 is the best aircraft in Air India fleet is the new-age business class with luxurious suites, full-flat beds, sliding doors, personal wardrobes, and under-seat storage. Flying in Air India’s Business class on A350-900 gives a glimpse into the airline’s ongoing transformation. It has 28 suites in a 1-2-1 configuration offering direct aisle access to all passengers. Each suite has a convertible 79-inch full-flat bed built on the Collins Aerospace Horizon platform.

The perks of booking business class flights on Air India’s A350-900 include gourmet meals served on bespoke Ferragamo-designed tableware, a 21-inch HD Panasonic eX3 screen with noise-cancelling headphones, and an in-cabin humidifier. Everything from a vanity mirror to universal power outlets, tail-camera views, and top-notch Ferragamo amenity kits are meticulous additions to your luxury and comfort above the clouds.

The post What is Best and Safest Aircraft in Air India Fleet for USA to India Flights? first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post What is Best and Safest Aircraft in Air India Fleet for USA to India Flights? appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

While technology giants are burning cash to establish their supremacy over artificial intelligence, 28-year-old Varun Mohan is capitalizing on it. He chose to be with Google for his next milestone in the hard-edged competition among Alphabet Inc., Facebook Meta, Microsoft and OpenAI. Global netizens are wondering why Alphabet Inc’s CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman betted billions of dollars on Indian American Varun Mohan, who turned down OpenAI’s whopping $3bn offer for less – a $2.4 billion deal from Google.

Varun Mohan’s deal with Google catapulted him and his partner Douglas Chen on the threshold of the elite club of Indian American billionaires. Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Raj Sardana, and Nikesh Arora are the new members of this club, according to Forbes’ 2025 list of richest immigrants.

Who is Indian American Varun Mohan?

Varun Mohan is CEO and co-founder of Windsurf, an AI coding startup. Born to Indian immigrant parents in Sunnyvale, California, he was raised in a household shaped by Indian values and driven by American Dream. From a young age, Varun was drawn to technology and problem-solving. At The Harker School in San Jose, he stood out for his exceptional talent in math and computing, which earned him the moniker – a math prodigy. As an Olympiad achiever in math and computing, he developed a deeply analytical bent of mind that laid the foundation for his success as a tech entrepreneur in America.

Varun Mohan’s educational qualifications include both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from MIT University in Massachusetts. He earned a dual degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, a tough combination that few meritorious students choose to pursue. At MIT, Mohan specialized in operating systems, distributed computing, machine learning, performance engineering, and algorithms.

Varun Mohan’s Career Journey from an Intern to CEO

Before launching the coding startup Windsurf, Varun Mohan built a strong professional foundation by working with some of the most respected tech companies in the world. During his time at MIT, he interned at Quora, LinkedIn, Samsung, Cloudian, and Databricks, gaining hands-on experience in machine learning systems, cloud storage, and data infrastructure. After graduation, he joined the self-driving car startup Nuro, where he rose to the rank of Lead Software Engineer.

In 2021, Varun co-founded Windsurf with Douglas Chen, his batchmate at MIT. As the CEO of Windsurf, he introduced Cascade, an AI-native development environment where engineers could write, test, and refactor code simply by speaking to their systems. Within months, over a million developers adopted it. The company raised around $240 million in funding and reached a valuation of $1.25 billion, making it one of the fastest-growing AI startups in the US Silicon Valley. A few months ago, Forbes named Windsurf as one of the top 50 AI companies in the world.

Why Varun Mohan Rejected OpenAI’s $3bn Offer for Google

It is said that the AI technology that Varun Mohan and his team at Windsurf built triggered Google DeepMind vs OpenAI. Varun was close to signing OpenAI’s $3-billion offer for Windsurf, but things fell apart when Microsoft, OpenAI’s biggest investor, raised concerns over potential conflicts with its own product, GitHub Copilot. The disagreement stopped the deal halfway. Instead, he chose Google where he won’t lose his ownership as CEO of Windsurf. Precisely, Windsurf continues to run as an independent company and sell its technology to other clients.

Is 17-year-old Pranjali Awasthi the next Varun Mohan? She is the founder and CEO of Delv.AI, a disruptive startup for the online search landscape dominated by Google.

The $2.4 billion deal with Google DeepMind is not a full acquisition of Windsurf by Alphabet. Rather, it is a licensing and talent deal that gives Google non-exclusive rights to key Windsurf technologies without taking ownership of the company. Under the deal, he, along with his business partner and selected talents from the R&D team have joined Google DeepMind, Alphabet Inc.’s dedicated AI research division, to advance agentic coding projects and integrate their tools into Gemini.

Subscribe to monthly newsletters of Travel Beats, your favorite Indian Diaspora portal for relevant stories for Indian immigrants in America, US immigration & visa updates, US-India travel news, and a lot more. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians and Americans in the US, booking cheap flights to India and offering phone-only budget flight deals.

The post Who is Varun Mohan? Windsurf CEO who Rejected OpenAI’s $3bn Offer to Join Google for $2.4bn first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post Who is Varun Mohan? Windsurf CEO who Rejected OpenAI’s $3bn Offer to Join Google for $2.4bn appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The global Indian community has been googling who are Indian-origin billionaires among the richest immigrants in America since Forbes’ 2025 list was published. For the first time, 12 Indian Americans made it to the Forbes list of billionaires, with Jay Chaudhry having retained the distinction – the wealthiest Indian-origin billionaire in USA – since 2021. His net worth rose to $17.9bn from $12bn in 2021. America’s highest paid CEO Nikesh Arora, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Atlanta-based Raj Sardana, a self-made billionaire, are the newcomers in the elite club of America’s billionaire immigrants.

Jay Chaudhry, Net Worth $17.9 Billion

With a net worth of $17.9 billion, Jay Chaudhry, CEO of Zscaler, is the richest Indian American billionaire and one of the 10 wealthiest immigrants in the USA. His journey from a small Himalayan village to Wall Street is an inspiring story of American Dream. Born in a remote village without running water in Himachal Pradesh, Jay Chaudhry is a leading cyber security business tycoon in San Francisco Bay Area. He co-founded Zscaler, a virtual security check-post for companies exposed to cyber threats, in San Jose after a short stint in sales and marketing positions at MNCs like IBM. He is an alumnus of Harvard University and the University of Cincinnati. Unlike other billionaires, he says “My success so far has mainly been because I have very little attachment for money. I definitely do not feel like a billionaire even with a multibillion-dollar fortune.”

Vinod Khosla, Net Worth $9.2 Billion

Vinod Khosla’s net worth has swelled to $9.2 billion from USD 2.3 billion in 2020. Sun Microsystems’ ex-cofounder Vinod Khosla is now the second richest of all Indian American billionaires, according to Forbes 2025. An alumnus of Mount St Mary’s School in New Delhi, he studied at IIT Delhi, Carnegie Mellon University, and Stanford Graduate School of Business. A newspaper article on the founding of Intel piqued his interest in technology when he was a teenager. He established Khosla Ventures, a venture capital firm in Menlo Park, California and co-founded the Indus Entrepreneurs (NiE), a non-profit network of entrepreneurs.

Rakesh Gangwal, Net Worth $6.6 Billion

Miami-based Rakesh Gangwal, with a net worth of $6.6 billion, is on Forbes 2025 list of richest immigrants in America. A former co-founder of IndiGo, India’s largest low-cost airline, Rakesh Gangwal topped the list of 10 Indian-origin American billionaires in 2018. With a drastic dip in his fortunes due to the pandemic’s impact on aviation, Kolkata–born Rakesh Gangwal’s net worth dropped to $2.3 billion in 2020. An alumnus of IIM Lucknow in mechanical engineering, he studied MBA at Wharton School of Pennsylvania University and fulfilled his American Dream when he became the Chairman of US Airways Group after a stint in strategic planning for United Airlines in 1984. He founded InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. in 2000 and co-founded IndiGo in 2006. Today, IndiGo is the Indian airline in terms of domestic market share.

Romesh T. Wadhwani, Net Worth $5 Billion  

Symphony Technology Group’s founder and CEO Romesh T. Wadhwani from California with a net worth of $5bn continues to be among the 10 richest Indian American billionaires in 2025. His fortunes rose from $3.4 billion in 2020. Romesh Wadhwani is not just the richest Gujarati Indian entrepreneur in USA but a compassionate philanthropist too. His family shifted from Pakistan to India during the 1947 Partition. He is an alumnus of IIT Bombay in electrical engineering and holds a PhD degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Romesh T. Wadhwani is a self-made serial entrepreneur. He set up the Wadhwani Foundation with several initiatives including the National Entrepreneurship Network to drive socio-economic development in countries like India. In 2012, he opened a research center at the National Center for Biological Sciences in Bengaluru.

Rajiv Jain, Net Worth $4.7bn 

Forbes 2025 list of richest immigrants in America features Rajiv Jain with a net worth of $4.7 billion among 12 Indian American billionaires. Born and raised in north India, Rajiv Jain is the founder, chairman and chief investment officer of GQG Partners, a Fort Lauderdale-based global investment firm managing over $150 billion in assets. He moved to the US in the early 1990s to pursue MBA at the University of Miami. He started his career as an equity analyst and had a progressive career spanning two decades at Vontobel Asset Management where he became co-CEO in 2014. His firm is closely tied to India, with major stakes in ITC, HDFC, RIL, ICICI Bank, SBI, Sun Pharma, Infosys, Bharti Airtel, Adani Group, and more.

Kavitark Ram Shriram, Net Worth $3bn 

With a net worth of $3 billion, Kavitark Ram Shriram stands sixth among the richest Indian Americans in 2025.  Among the early investors in Google, Kavitark was born in Chennai and graduated in mathematics at Chennai’s Loyola College. Based in California, he worked for Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon, before making headlines for his investment worth $250,000 in Google. A board member of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, Kavitark Ram Shriram founded Sherpalo, a venture capital firm for technology startups in 2000. He joined the league of Indian American philanthropists by donating a whopping $61 million to Stanford University.

Raj Sardana, Net Worth $2bn

Born in Delhi to a family displaced by the 1947 Partition, Innova Solutions CEO Raj Sardana from Atlanta is a new face on Forbes’ 2025 list of billionaire immigrants in the US. His journey from just $100 in 1981 to his current net worth $2bn is phenomenal. After he moved to the US, he worked in a college cafeteria while studying MS Georgia Tech. Later, he opened a small print shop in Georgia, which became the foundation of Innova Solutions. Today, the company has over 50,000 employees in multiple countries. From humble beginnings to building a billion-dollar company, Raj Sardana’s pursuit of American Dream is the envy of many.

David Paul, Net Worth $1.5bn

With a net worth estimated at $1.5 billion, David C. Paul, Executive Chairman of Globus Medical, one of the top spine and orthopedic device makers in the US, is featured on the Forbes 2025 list of richest immigrants in the United States. Born in India and educated in Chennai, he moved to the US to pursue a master’s degree at Temple University in Philadelphia. He began his career in biomedical research and later started Globus Medical in 2003. Currently living in Audubon, Pennsylvania, David is a prolific innovator with dozens of patents in surgical technology. Globus Medical operates a major subsidiary in Chennai, showcasing Indian-American innovation in global healthcare.

Nikesh Arora, Net Worth $1.4bn

California-based Nikesh Arora, with a a net worth of $1.4 billion, is one of the richest Indian American CEOs on Forbes’ 2025 list of immigrant billionaires. Originally from north India, Nikesh was born into an army family and studied engineering at IIT-BHU before heading to the US for MBA at Northeastern University and master’s in finance from Boston College. He spent nearly a decade in top roles at Google, then went on to become the President of SoftBank. Since he joined Palo Alto Networks in 2018, he has transformed the company into a cybersecurity giant. In 2023, he hit the headlines as the highest paid Indian-origin CEO in the US, earning over $150 million in a single year.

Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella

Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, both sporting net worth of around $1.1 billion, are among the Forbes ‘America’s Richest Immigrants 2025’ list. They’re also at the helm of two of the biggest tech giants in the world, Google and Microsoft. Sundar, based in Los Altos Hills, is a graduate of IIT Kharagpur, Stanford University, and Wharton, and has been serving as the CEO of Alphabet and Google since 2015. Satya, originally from Hyderabad and now living in Washington, holds degrees in computer science engineering and business from institutions in both India and the US. He became the CEO of Microsoft in 2014 and now also serves as the chairman of the board.

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The post Forbes 2025 List of Richest Immigrants USA has 12 Indian American Billionaires with Total Net Value $55bn first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post Forbes 2025 List of Richest Immigrants USA has 12 Indian American Billionaires with Total Net Value $55bn appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

In the current socio-political climate of America, the re-entry process at major US airports after a foreign trip holds surprises not just for non-immigrant visa holders. US citizens and Green Card holders are not exceptions to it. Re-entry into the US is a smooth experience for some travelers returning from a month-long trip to India or some other country, while some reported facing intense scrutiny on arrival. Precisely, the experience varies from person to person.

KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli, an Indian-origin US citizen from Virginia, shared his US re-entry experience at Washington Dulles Airport, with Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor at Indian Eagle, a leading air-ticketing partner of Indians in America. After a trip to his native place in Andhra Pradesh, he returned on Qatar Airways flights from New Delhi to Washington DC, IAD Airport. His re-entry was neither smooth nor complicated. Rather, it is insightful for many immigrants who would fly back to USA after summer travel.

At Washington Dulles IAD Airport, CBP officers asked him about his trip duration and the places he visited during the trip. They went on to ask whether his cabin bag had food packets, pickles, and/or jewelry. KrishnaKumar told them that he brought two small packets of Indian sweets and a small piece of jewelry in the handbag, no pickles.

“What is the value of jewelry?” the CBP officer wanted to know immediately. “It’s USD 3000,” said Krishna Kumar. “Are you sure? It’s 3K worth? Is it plain jewelry or diamonds?” said the CBP officer with raised eyebrows, trying to ascertain the jewelry value. Krishna Kumar courteously replied he was absolutely sure about the jewelry piece having no diamonds and the worth being not more than $3K. He was further asked whether he purchased the jewelry in transit (during the layover in Doha).

The CBP officer’s interrogation continued, as KrishnaKumar was referred to a secondary check. He was taken to a room where he was told to open the carry-on bag and show the jewelry along with the receipt. On seeing the receipt of about USD 3300, the CBP officer said, “There is a tax for any foreign purchases above US$ 800.” It took him aback, as he was under the impression that any foreign import, cash or jewelry, under $10K is tax free in the US. He ended up paying 5.5% tax on $2500 ($3300-$800).

This is, indeed, an eye opener for many Indians who bring valuables to USA from India and make duty-free purchases at airports in transit during return trips. For anything above US$ 800, you need to submit a declaration to the CBP and pay customs duty at US airports. However, no customs duty for gold coin imports into USA if the value is under $10K.

There is a way to avoid paying the US’ customs duty on gold jewelry and other valuables if you travel in a group. $800 is the tax-free limit to the worth of imports per individual entering the US. If you are four, including your spouse and two children, flying back to the US with gold jewelry worth $3500, you would have to pay taxes only on $300 ($3500 – $800 x 4). Since KrishnaKumar was alone, he had to pay taxes on $2500.

Despite being a US citizen, his US re-entry experience at Dulles IAD Airport went beyond what is considered normal. He also declared that he purchased a couple of perfume bottles and a chocolate box as part of duty-free shopping in transit. Thereafter, the CBP officer asked him, “Are you sure? You didn’t bring any meat pickles.” He denied outright reiterating that he did not bring any such food items except two packets of sweets from India and one chocolate box from Doha.

“What about clothes and gift articles?” was the CBP officer’s next question to him. KrishnaKumar said, “No gift articles and new clothes. I just brought back the clothes that I carried during my onward journey.” The CBP officer clarified his question, “I am asking about designer clothes or bags.”

“These days CBP officers are more vigilant about counterfeit brand imports into the United States. International arrivals at US airports, especially from China, India, Philippines and a few other Asian countries, are facing the law enforcement against counterfeit luxury items if found in their bags. In FY 22 alone, the CBP seized more than 25 million fake goods of various brands, mostly from non-immigrants. Check out the US policy for international travelers carrying items with fake brand tags into USA,” said Sourav Agarwal.

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Disclaimer: KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli shared his US re-entry experience through Travel Beats, the Indian Diaspora and Travel News portal, with the message that people returning from abroad should not act smart with CBP officers. They must declare to CBP their imports from abroad and politely give honest answers during the entry inspection. We used an AI-generated picture to represent KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli for the sake of his digital privacy.

The post “My US Re-entry Experience is Insightful for You,” Shares Indian American KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post “My US Re-entry Experience is Insightful for You,” Shares Indian American KrishnaKumar Podagatlapalli appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

It seems that non-immigrants are at the center of revenue streams to the US Treasury. After having signed an executive order to increase visitor fees to America’s national parks for non-US residents, President Trump is up with the first-of-its-kind surcharge for non-immigrant visa applicants under the One Big Beautiful Bill. Named the Visa Integrity Fee, $250 will be levied on all US visa applicants from India and other countries, starting in 2026. Read on to know whether it is fixed, waivable, and refundable. 

What is new US Visa Integrity Fee?

Integral to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, the $250 Visa Integrity Fee will be collected from foreign nationals including Indians applying for B1/B2 visa, US student visas, US work visas (H-1B, L-1), and others. Dependent visa applicants (like H4) may not be exempted. The Department of Homeland Security has made the Visa Integrity Fee mandatory, in addition to the standard visa application fees.

This is the first time the US government has introduced this kind of fee, and it’s part of President Trump’s sweeping immigration reform known as the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.‘ With this, the overall cost of visiting or studying or working in the US will go higher, especially for US-based Indians’ visiting parents and students from India. With this new fee, the US treasury would have an inflow of funds from Indian professionals who make up a large share of the US non-immigrant population.

The new Visa Integrity Fee is non-waivable, which means non-immigrant US visa applicants will have to pay it, regardless of their visa purpose or financial situation. However, the $250 Visa Integrity Fee is refundable, and the refund claim is subject to certain conditions, including but not limited to your strict compliance with the US visa rules, like no visa overstay.

How to get a refund on $250 Visa Integrity Fee collected by DHS

DHS reiterates that the fee cannot be waived or reduced for any reason, but it may be refundable in limited cases.

You might get the Visa Integrity Fee back if you strictly comply with the rules and regulations applicable to your US visa status and category. This means you refrain from taking up a job or any sort of employment without authorization.

DHS may refund the additional $250 fee if B1/B2 visa holders don’t overstay in the US. Those who exit the US within 5 days prior to their form I-94 expiration date without seeking visa extension or change of status might be eligible for a refund.

If you receive a lawful extension or your visa status is adjusted to permanent residency before the Form I-94 expiry date, you can seek a refund of the Visa Integrity Fee from the Department of Homeland Security.

Purpose of the US Visa Integrity Fee for non-immigrants

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill, the Visa Integrity Fee is introduced aiming to make all US visa holders more accountable and law compliant. The additional $250 fee is intended to prevent non-immigrants from making violations like unauthorized work and overstaying in the US. It is a kind of penalization for any discrepancy found between what B1/B2 visa holders do in the US and what they stated as their purpose of visit in the US tourist visa interview as well as the DS-160 Form.

Subscribe to monthly newsletters of Travel Beats, your favorite Indian Diaspora portal for relevant stories for NRIs in America, US immigration updates, US-India travel news, and a lot more. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians and Americans in the US, offering phone-only budget flight deals to India. 

The post USA Brings Visa Integrity Fee for Nonimmigrants Including Indians: Check if $250 is Waivable or Refundable first appeared on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The post USA Brings Visa Integrity Fee for Nonimmigrants Including Indians: Check if $250 is Waivable or Refundable appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.