John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, said in 1959, “The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis’. One stands for danger, the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger, but recognize the opportunity.” More than sixty years later, his words are more relevant than ever, especially in current times of US visa rejections and immigration crackdowns.

What John F. Kennedy said in 1959 rings true about Saransh Goila, a celebrity chef and entrepreneur in India. Aiming to encourage thousands of Indians navigating US visa interviews and immigration challenges only to face rejection, Chef Saransh Goila shared an interesting anecdote on Instagram. How his life tumbled after he was denied a US visitor visa in 2011, how he overcame the feeling as if there was no tomorrow, and how it became a turning point resonated with many Indians.

PC: Chef Saransh Goila | Instagram

In his 20s, Saransh Goila was fascinated with the idea of traveling to the US and making it to Food Network. He gathered all his savings for flight tickets to Los Angeles, but the US visa rejection crushed his hopes and made him feel like this was the end of his world. However, “what happens, happens for good” – is what he believes now. The closed door to America led him to the other end of the tunnel where a better opportunity was awaiting him.

Exactly one month later, life surprised him. He got a call from Food Food TV for audition that turned his fortune around unpredictably. What appeared like a bolt from the blue was actually a response to the email that he had sent to the channel in 2010. He was shortlisted as a contestant for the FoodFood Maha Challenge 2011 hosted by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Bollywood diva, Madhuri Dixit. He won the competition and became a household name in India.

In a 2016 interview with Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor at Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indian Diaspora, Chef Saransh Goila gave a sneak peek of his 20,000km food marathon across India as part of Food Food channel’s ‘Roti Rasta aur India’ program. He documented his observations, experiences, and insights from the culinary food trip in the book titled “India on My Platter.”

His growing popularity earned him invitation to showcase Indian Cuisine in the United States in March 2012. This was the time he realized that good things happen at the right time.

Chef Saransh Goila had a completely different experience during his US visa interview the second time. “Why was your visa rejected the first time? I can’t understand,” a young interviewer at the US Consulate told him. With a gentle smile, the consular officer also told him that the chef did not need to carry any newspaper clippings to prove himself. Rather, he said, “Can you teach me more about Indian food?” A surprise to Saransh beyond his imagination!

After making a name for himself on Indian Television, Saransh Goila went on to build something of his own- Goila Butter Chicken, a brand that has now grown to over 100 locations across India and London. He is also planning to take his signature butter chicken to the USA very soon. In 2019, Saransh was featured in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list. He was recognized as the youngest Celebrity Chef in the list of Top 10 Chefs in India.

Reflecting on the journey, he wrote on social media, “If I had gone earlier to the US, who knows I might have struggled all my life. My rejection made me who I am today.” Saransh Goila’s journey from the first-time visa rejection to the invitation from USA reminds us that rejection does not always mean failure. Not all visa rejections are utter disappointments. In fact, for some, it is the push they need to find success in ways they have never imagined.

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Every other day comes with a surprise for immigrants in the United States. On April 11, a new USCIS rule for immigrants came into effect requiring all temporary visa holders, including H1B, and Green Card holders, to carry a valid ID proof all the time. And now, in a recent development, the US immigration agency (USCIS) issued an alert that updating your address with the US Postal Service (USPS) is not enough.

Are you moving to the US? Or, changing your residence within the US? It is crucial to update your new address or change of address with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It is now a mandate for all non-citizen visa holders and Green Card holders to update their address with USCIS within 10 days of relocation. Non-compliance may result in consequences. Non-compliance may result in fines and missed communications, such as biometrics appointment notices, green card renewal updates, or interview letters. However, certain visa holders are exempt to this USCIS rule for aliens.

PC: Freepik (paid image)

Why is it not enough to update your address only with USPS? Who must report address change to USCIS?

Many L1, O1, F1, and H1B visa holders are under the impression that updating their address change with USPS is enough to receive all official correspondence. However, USCIS’ most recent social media post clarified that all non-citizens in the US (except A & G visa holders and visitors under the Visa Waiver Program) must update their address directly with the immigration agency.

“All aliens in the U.S. must report a change of address to USCIS within 10 days of moving. This reporting requirement does not apply to A and G visa holders and visa waiver visitors. Failure to comply may result in fines or removal.”

How to update your address change with USCIS

USCIS recommends using the Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) tool for quick and secure address updates. Accessible through your USCIS online account, this digital option eliminates paperwork and allows you to update multiple pending applications by entering the receipt numbers. It offers faster processing and real-time confirmation once your address is successfully updated in the USCIS records. To begin, visit the official USCIS Change of Address tool.

How to update your address offline If you don’t have a USCIS account?

If you don’t have a USCIS online account, you can update your latest US address by submitting Form AR-11, the Alien’s Change of Address Card. You can download it from the USCIS website, fill it out manually, and mail it to the address listed on the form. However, this process may take longer and it does not provide for an automated update to your address in the USCIS system.

Link your pending or approved immigration benefit requests when updating your address

When updating your change of address with USCIS online, it’s important to include the receipt numbers for each of your pending or approved immigration benefit requests. This ensures that your new address in USA is correctly associated with all active cases, preventing application processing delays and missed correspondence

Who are exempted from the USCIS mandate on updating change of address?

A and G visa holders are diplomats, foreign government officials, and employees of international organizations such as the United Nations or the World Bank. These visa holders are typically exempt from the standard immigration processes and requirements that apply to other non-citizens, including the 10-day address update rule.

Also Check: Travel to India and Fly Back to USA worry-free with These Essential Documents

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The days of claiming your checked bags from an international flight and rechecking in the same for a connecting domestic flight in the US are numbered. Isn’t it good for family travelers with kids and unaccompanied elderly travelers in particular? The comfort of traveling on international nonstop flights to USA fades into the hassles of retrieving checked baggage only to be rechecked in for domestic connection at the port of entry. Walking to the baggage claim area, waiting for your bags at the assigned carousel, dragging the bags to recheck in only after rescreening – it’s quite overwhelming at major US airports.

Not anymore! American Airlines became the world’s first and only carrier with a breakthrough initiative eliminating the above tiring process for its inbound passengers flying into the US. American Airlines’ International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS) program streamlines international arrival and domestic connection to a great extent by enabling thorough baggage transfer from international to domestic flights for low-risk travelers.

PC: American Airlines

How AA’s International Remote Baggage Screening works

Introduced in collaboration with the US Customs and Border Protection, the baggage claim and recheck-in elimination program is currently under trial for AA passengers flying to Los Angeles International Airport from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. Successful completion of the pilot trial would roll out the program to other hub airports and destinations of American Airlines, including New Delhi in India.

If this program expands to India for American Airlines’ New Delhi to New York flights, Indians would largely benefit from the IRBS program. leveraging advanced technology, CBP officers would remotely review the X-ray images of your bags checked in at New Delhi Airport and clear the bags for direct transfer to your final destination in the US before you actually arrive at John F. Kennedy Airport. No need to collect and recheck in your checked bags if nothing suspicious is detected during a remote review and the bags are not marked for further inspection by CBP.

Also, layovers shorter than 2 hours may suffice for international to domestic connections in the US, with the baggage claim and recheck-in process being eliminated. You would simply go through immigration clearance and TSA screening with your carry-on bag before heading straight to the scheduled connecting flight. Your checked bags would meet you at the final destination in the US.

Also Read: British Airways’ new airport service in 5 Indian languages

A 2019 survey conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealed that nearly 60% of passengers cited baggage claim and recheck-in as a major pain point. Besides, the entire process of claiming, rescreening, and rechecking bags increases the risks of baggage mishandling and the likelihood of missing connecting flights, mainly during peak travel seasons. Given the hassles of international travel, American Airlines’ International Remote Baggage Screening program promises to make the arrival process utterly seamless and set a new benchmark for passenger comfort.

At an India-US aviation summit in June 2024, the US TSA administrator tabled a proposal to India for one-stop security, aiming to end post-arrival screening of international passengers flying between the two countries. The one-stop security agreement refers to the foolproof screening of passengers and their bags at departure airports or ports of travel origin, so that they have a seamless arrival experience without additional security checks in destination countries.

Travel Beats is a leading international travel news portal by Indian Eagle, the most trusted air-ticketing partner of Indians in America. Grab Indian Eagle’s best deals for summer travel to India with Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air India, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, United Airlines, British Airways, American Airlines, and Singapore Airlines.

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Not all news stories of travel nightmares in the US are rumors. Unfortunately, some are true. One such news of stringent security screening and harassment at US airports involves Shruti Chaturvedi, an Indian business woman who supports rural communities with business opportunities. She recently traveled to Alaska from India and had a harrowing experience as she was detained for long 8 hours at Anchorage Airport. All because a power bank in her luggage was deemed suspicious. What unfolded during her detention took not only Indians but the world aback.

She wrote about her ordeal on X.com, “Imagine being detained by Police and FBI for 8 hours, being questioned the most ridiculous things, physically checked by a male officer on camera, stripped off warm wear, mobile phone, wallet, kept in chilled room, not allowed to use a restroom, or make a single phone call, made to miss your flight – all because the airport security found your power bank in handbag ‘suspicious’.”

PC: instagram.com/shrutichaturvedii

This not just distressed her beyond measure but also ruined her trip to the US. This incident involving Shruti Chaturvedi is an eyeopener for Indians and others planning to visit USA on B1/B2 Visa. It has raised significant concerns over the intensified scrutiny and harsh treatment of international travelers at the ports of entry in Trump’s America. Reports of apprehension among tourists and visitors being frisked and interrogated for hours have prompted several countries, including the UK, Canada and Germany, to update advisories for their citizens traveling to USA.

The discovery of a power bank in carry-on bags is not too suspicious to detain travelers. However, the above incident apart, international airlines are dissuading passengers from carrying and using power banks on flights. Of late, several airlines have updated their cabin baggage policy to evade inflight fire incidents that power banks with lithium-ion batteries may cause.

EVA Air has banned the use and charging of power banks aboard flights starting 1 March 2025. Singapore Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot have also barred passengers from using power banks and plugging the devices into the in-seat USB ports, effective from 1 April 2025. Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and Emirates have introduced similar rules.

Booking travel to USA from India? It’s crucial to stay informed about specific airline policies regarding power banks and other electronic devices. While no major international airlines operating flights to USA from India have bans carrying power banks outright, the guidelines have been tightened. Typically, power banks are allowed only in carry-on luggage and must not be used or charged in the air.

Can I carry a power bank on my flight to USA? 

Yes, you may carry in compliance of the policy of the airline that you are flying with. Most airlines allow power banks in carry-on bags, not in checked baggage. However, the onus of checking the updated airline policy is on you for hassle-free arrival in the US. You may be allowed to bring a power bank (with limited capacity) on board, but you may be barred from using it during a flight for safety concerns. Many airlines allow power banks with limited capacity, to say under 100Wh.

The post This Indian Business Woman Shares Her Ordeal of Being Detained for a Power Bank at US Airport; An Eye-opening Incident appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

It’s common for many Indian women to change their maiden name after marriage; it’s often seen as a ritual after entering a new phase of life. While it’s not mandatory to change your surname in your passport after marriage, many women still choose to do so. If you’re one of them, there’s good news. The Government of India has introduced Annexure J, a new provision that makes the process much simpler. This is just one of the latest changes to Indian passports.

In this article, you will get to know about the new Indian passport rules 2025 – ranging from the changes for married women to other important updates like mandatory birth certificate requirements, and removal of printed residential addresses as well as parents’ names from Indian passports.

PC: IndianEagle.com (paid image)

Until the recent changes to Indian passports, you (Indian women) were required to submit a marriage certificate as proof to update your name or add spouse name in your passport. Now, that step has been simplified. Instead of a marriage certificate, you can submit Annexure J, a joint declaration form that acts as proof of marriage for an update to your name on the passport. The Annexure J form must include a joint photograph of the couple, signatures of the couple, their names and dates of birth, Aadhaar numbers, and their voter ID or passport numbers. This change makes it very helpful for those whose marriages have not yet been formally registered.

However, some situations still require legal documentation. To remove a spouse’s name from the passport, a divorce decree is mandatory. In cases of remarriage, the applicant must submit either a divorce decree or death certificate of the previous spouse, along with a remarriage certificate or a new joint declaration with the current spouse. Women who choose to adopt their husband’s surname also need to complete additional formalities, such as publishing a name change notification in two newspapers or the State Gazette and updating their Aadhaar and PAN cards with the new name.

Indian Passport Rules 2025: Birth Certificate is Mandatory

If you’re a new parent, it’s now more important than ever to get a government-issued birth certificate for your child shortly after birth. This document is now essential for passport issuance for your child in India. According to the new passport rules, applicants born on or after October 1, 2023 must submit a birth certificate as the only valid proof of date of birth when applying for a passport. This certificate must be issued by the Municipal Corporation, the Registrar of Births and Deaths, or any authority designated under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.

Residential Address ceases to be Printed on Indian Passports

In another significant change to the passport in India, the government has decided to stop printing residential addresses on the last page of passports. Instead, your new or renewed passport will have a digitally embedded barcode that stores your residential address details, and the barcode can be scanned by authorized immigration or government officials whenever necessary.

This decision has been taken to protect the privacy of passport holders. If your passport is lost or stolen, such crucial information as your residential address will remain protected against unauthorized access, thereby reducing the risk of misuse. In case your address changes in the future, you may not need a new passport booklet. Only the digital record may need to be updated.

Indian Passport Rules 2025: Parents’ Names Removed

As per the changes to Indian Passport in 2025, parents’ names will no longer be printed on new passports. This update acknowledges modern family structures and offers enhanced privacy, especially for applicants from single-parent families or those who prefer not to disclose parental details. This is a welcome change, in terms of privacy and inclusivity. Children of single parents, for instance, previously had to leave one parent’s name blank or explain their situation.

The Ministry of External Affairs has clarified that while parent details will continue to be collected during the application process for internal verification, the printing of those details has been ruled out. This move, much like the removal of residential address, reflects a broad a shift in the government’s approach to securing your passport and personal information.

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If you prefer to book Air India flights, among the top 10 airlines for US-India travel, there’s some good news worth your attention. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, CEO Campbell Wilson dropped hints at adjusting international airfares to fleet upgrade delays and older aircraft in operations. While flight tickets to India are touching new highs on the fare scale with the summer holiday season nearing for Indians in North America, Air India’s fare deals may go downwards for Indian Diaspora. It seems like a strategic move to compensate overseas Indians for not-so-pleasant flying experience and retain them, at the same time.

In the interview with Bloomberg, Air India’s CEO offered an insight into the airline’s strategy. Speaking openly about the current state of the fleet and the fierce competition in international markets, he said, “People choose an airline for many things- price, travel duration, affinity with the culture or the food or just the perception of quality. Because we know that our fleet is not consistent, we may price accordingly.”

This statement is indicative of an impending drop in Air India fares to USA and other destinations. Air India operates in a highly competitive international space, where carriers like Emirates, Etihad, and Singapore Airlines offer comfort, luxury, seamless connectivity, and pleasant flying experience – all in one package. While Air India has the monopoly of operating nonstop flights, its wide-body aircraft fleet – especially Boeing 777s used for long-haul international service – is still awaiting much-needed modernization.

Both delivery of brand new aircraft as part of the multibillion dollar deal with Boeing and Airbus, and the retrofit of widebody B777s have been hit by global supply chain issues affecting aircraft manufacturers. This situation continues to keep Air India’s network expansion plans in a limbo and force older aircraft into operations with increased maintenance overheads, according to CEO Campbell Wilson.

With no confirmed timeline in place for the widebody retrofit project, Air India has taken a short-term approach to cabin overhauls on the existing B777-300ERs. Undeniably, something is better than nothing. This interim refurbishment being carried out by a subsidiary of the Singapore Airlines Group, will remain in progress through 2025.

B777s’ temporary cabin overhauls on flights from India to Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco, include new seat covers, cushions, curtains, and carpets reflecting Air India’s new brand identity. Additionally, you may see improved lavatories, meal tables, armrests, galleys, and cabin walls in the coming days. However, the legacy aircraft will see major upgrades to seating, inflight entertainment systems, and other amenities in the retrofit project that is yet to see the daylight.

“A majority of Air India’s intercontinental passengers are yet to experience the world-class service and hospitality available on the brand new A350-900s operating to New York JFK, Newark EWR, and London Heathrow from New Delhi. Among our customers, those who booked Air India tickets to New Delhi from New York/Newark in the past few months traveled on A350-900s and experienced what the airline is aiming for,” said CEO of IndianEagle.com, the most trusted air-ticketing partner of Indians in the US.

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Remember the movie English Vinglish, the character Shashi (played by Sridevi), and her first-time travel from India to New York? She was unassertive, hesitant, and vulnerable right from airport check-in to immigration clearance to boarding. All because of language barriers. Like this character, many elderly Indians traveling solo to visit their children settled abroad feel lost in real while navigating international airports. Most of them are non-English and/or non-Hindi speakers.

PC: British Airways (customized by Indian Eagle for illustration purpose only)

But no more! British Airways became the first foreign carrier to close the language gap for Indian passengers, with its in-person guidance in 5 Indian languages – Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Punjabi. This first-of-its-kind support is part of BA’s brand new Meet and Assist service available across all five Indian airports – New Delhi IGI, Mumbai CSMI, Hyderabad RGI, Bengaluru Kempegowda, and Chennai MAA. These are the gateways of British Airways flights to and from India.

British Airways’ in-person airport support in local languages aims to help Indians communicate their needs effortlessly for less stressful travel from India to the UK and beyond. No more difficulty checking in, navigating the airport for facilities, understanding the boarding announcements, finding the pre-assigned seat on board, and transiting to connecting flights at London Heathrow for non-Hindi and/or non-English-speaking Indian travelers, particularly unaccompanied senior citizens.

Also Read: Transit Visa Guide for Indians Flying via London

Interestingly, BA’s language-based assistance extends from Indian airports to London Heathrow Airport where it makes transit connections as seamless as possible. Hence, it mitigates your worries even if your non-English-speaking elderly parents travel unaccompanied to the US via London Heathrow, one of the busiest airports in the world. The best thing? The in-person guidance in your language is the complimentary part of British Airways’ brand new Meet and Assist service.

Integral to the airline’s commitment to removing barriers and flying Indians in comfort, the local language-friendly assistance initiative is currently available at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai airports for free, with Hyderabad to follow on 8 April 2025. This dedicated service has been rolled out following the success of trials for months in 2024.

How can you avail British Airways’ free in-person service?

After securing the best deals for British Airways flights to USA through IndianEagle.com or any other agency, you can register for BA’s in-person assistance through ‘Manage My Booking’ on the airline website. Prior to your airport check-in on the scheduled day of travel, the airline’s Meet and Assist team will greet you and address your queries/needs in your preferred Indian language (out of the abovementioned). Days of discomfort are gone for non-Hindi and non-English speakers among senior citizens, especially from South India.

Is British Airways good for senior citizens’ solo travel to USA?

Among the best airlines to India and USA, British Airways became senior citizens’ travel-friendly airline for its brand new meet and assist service in Indian languages. This may eat into the market share of nonstop Air India flights that many Indians in North America book for their parents’ travel between USA/Canada and India. No exaggeration; BA’s in-person assistance in local languages is a highly competitive edge over the Middle East carriers,” said Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor at Indian Eagle, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians in the US.

“It’s important to us that every customer can travel in safety, comfort and with dignity, and we know that there are some who need an extra helping hand throughout their journey. As part of our new Meet and Assist program, our trained colleagues will be able to act as a companion on the ground for our customers with access requirements, ensuring a smooth flying experience,” said British Airways’ Director of airports.

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“Age is merely a number; it’s the passion and vision that truly define one’s impact.” These words ring true for Sirish Subash who won America’s Top Young Scientist Challenge in 2024, 10^th grader Deepali, a washerman’s daughter, who earned a US government scholarship, and Pranjali Awasthi who runs an AI startup disrupting Google-dominated online search market. 14-year-old Siddharth Nandyala, an Indian-origin inventor cum entrepreneur in the US, is among the newcomers in the elite club of prodigies. Siddharth has developed an AI-powered app that detects heart disease within seconds, with an accuracy of over 96%.

With cardiovascular disease being one of the biggest lifetakers in the world, Siddharth Nandyala’s CircadiaV app is a breakthrough in science, technology, and healthcare. He invented a simple, easy-to-use, cost-effective solution for saving lives, particularly in economically backward countries and in India’s rural backwaters with little to zero access to a healthcare system. This Indian-American tech prodigy is the founder and CEO of STEM IT.

PC: LinkedIn.com | Siddharth Nandyala

Based in Dallas, Texas; Siddharth’s immigrant parents are from Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. His father Mahesh Nandyala moved to the US in 2010 and is a serial entrepreneur with several startups in artificial intelligence. Born in a family that values education and innovation, he has grown up with natural curiosity for technology and its potential to solve real-world problems. Unlike kids of his age, he showed interest in making the right use of gadgets at a very tender age. His tryst with technology began at the age of 7, when his mother, Srilatha, showed him how to code.

Before joining the University of Texas, Dallas for a bachelors degree in Computer Science for Fall 2025, Siddharth earned certifications in artificial intelligence and machine learning from Oracle and ARM, thereby emerging as the world’s youngest AI-certified professional. He was not just doing certifications but chasing solutions. That’s when he started working on the app CircadiaV aiming to make detection of heart diseases easier, faster, and a lot more cost-effective. After all, timely detection may help many lives escape early death.

How Siddharth Nandyala’s CircadiaV app works? It records one’s heartbeats through a smartphone microphone, uses AI to analyse the data, and detects potential cardiac ailments – all in 7 seconds. No lab visits. No heavy machines. No expensive clinical tests. All that the app requires is a smartphone in good condition. CircadiaV has successfully been tested on 15,000 patients in the US and 700 in India during pilot trials.

STEM IT’s CEO Siddharth didn’t stop with just one invention. While working on his app, he came across another issue – prosthetic limbs. Many people who lose their arms in accidents or medical conditions can’t afford artificial limbs because they cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Siddharth decided to fix that too. He is now developing a brain-controlled prosthetic arm using EEG technology, bringing the cost down to just $300. That’s truly going to be life changing for many.

His transformative and disruptive innovations have already earned him recognitions. He was named Innovator of the Year by the Frisco Chamber of Commerce and received a Certificate of Recognition from the US House of Representatives. His startup STEM IT has garnered national attention, including a featured appearance on “Good Morning America” (broadcast on ABC). In 2014, he was honored with the distinction of delivering a keynote address, at the Global IndiaAI Summit, about his perspectives on the future of artificial intelligence.

At just 14, he has achieved what takes many adults a lifetime. And the best thing? It’s just the beginning for him. Despite being an innovator and an entrepreneur, he is still a growing kid at heart. Chess is his other passion. He admits that chess has played a big role in shaping his ability to think critically and solve problems strategically.

Travel Beats, a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, promotes achievements of young Indians in Americans through a series of success stories. IndianEagle.com, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians in USA, makes sure students, H1B visa holders, senior citizens on B2 visa, OCI Cardholders and others travel on best flights between USA and India for the lowest fares possible. 

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Re-entry to the United States is challenging these days even for legal immigrants, amid President Trump’s immigration crackdown at ports of entry across the country. Green Card holders, who are lawful permanent residents in the US, are not exempt to the scrutiny that the CBP officers have intensified to assess the immigrant status and re-admissibility of foreign nationals (aliens) returning from their home countries or a trip abroad. Precisely, the Trump administration’s no-compromise efforts to fix loopholes in immigration and security has become a gnawing concern for legal immigrants too.

Elderly Indians among Green Card holders, who are flying back to USA after a winter trip to India, are in for an unprecedented surprise on arrival, as the CBP officers are interrogating them and inspecting their documents. Some cases have been reported wherein senior citizens faced intense pressure to sign Form I-407 to voluntarily surrender their Green Cards on arrival at US airports, according to immigration attorneys.

This AI-generated image is for illustration purpose only

Some elderly Green Card holders spend winter months in India as they are not yet accustomed to bone-rattling winters in America. They are among the targets of ‘Green Card abandonment’. The US Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) states that those who spend more than 365 days in a calendar year outside the US are subject to ‘Green Card abandonment.’ At the same time, they can exercise their right to challenge this in court.

What is more worrisome is that a period of 180 days outside the US, even a shorter absence, has become a premise for the CBP officers to heavily scrutinize Green Card holders, senior citizens in particular.

What are the rights of Green Card holders at the US ports of entry in the above scenario? Immigration attorneys are receiving such queries every day. “Generally, an individual’s Green Card cannot be revoked at the port of entry unless he/she voluntarily signs Form I-407 to surrender it,” Kripa Upadhyay, an immigration attorney in Seattle, was quoted saying in an article by The Economic Times. “Only an immigration judge can take away a Green Card, so individuals should not sign Form I-407,” said another Indian-origin attorney in the US.

Mostly, Green Card holders’ absence from the US for 180 days or more in a calendar year, and their failure to maintain strong ties to the US are triggering CBP officers who have legal rights to inspect and interrogate immigrants returning from their home countries. At the same time, Green Card holders reserve the right to a hearing before an immigration judge if there are attempts to revoke their lawful permanent residence status, like secondary inspections, legal notices, unjust detention on arrival, and threats of deportation. A lawyer can be hired to represent their case during a court hearing.

Immigration attorneys caution Green Card holders against making frequent travel and spending more than 180 days outside the US in a year. If an individual has history of secondary inspections, he/she may come under the CBP scanner on return from overseas travel. It is recommended that Green Card holders maintain tangible evidence of their strong ties to the US, like employment, family, property, or filing tax returns during their overseas stay for months. They can show the evidence during a routine inspection or additional scrutiny by the US Customs officers.

As part of the immigration law enforcement by President Trump, Green Card holders must have a re-entry permit for re-admission to the USA after spending 365 days or more abroad. In view of this, immigration attorneys advise Green Card holders to apply for a re-entry permit before flying out of the US for a year. CBP officers have the right to deny re-admission to you for not having a re-entry permit. In short, you should carefully plan a long absence from the US soil to maintain your LPR status.

Immigration attorneys advise Green Card holders to cooperate with the CBP officers if their electronic devices, luggage, and/or social media accounts are examined. The US Customs officer may not need a warrant to check your devices and luggage for prohibited items, documents, or anti-US sentiments that could impact your re-entry to the country after a period of stay abroad. Everything from your belongings to travel history and social media communications is under the CBP scanner these days.

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To err is human. But a minor oversight of the flight schedule, visa information, or the traveler’s name on the ticket results in boarding denial, disrupting international travel and incurring a whopping loss. Most recently, an Indian-origin Microsoft executive from USA was scheduled to travel to India. But he was stopped by the airline during airport check-in and denied international travel. He is a seasoned traveler having a business visa to India. Over the past 20 years, he took 563 trips mostly on business class flights, some domestic and some international.

This AI-generated image is for illustration purpose only

What spoilt his 564^th trip is an eyeopener for everyone. “How could I do this” was his expression when he realized and regretted his mistake, small yet significant. Different date formats followed in the US and India confused him about the expiry date of his business visa to India. The visa that he assumed to be valid through 02 October 2025 did actually expire on 10 February 2025. Being unmindful of the India vs US date formats on travel documents is a common oversight that ended up denying boarding to him and cancelling his travel.

Let’s break down the incident and how you can avoid making the same mistake

He was taken aback the moment he heard, “You can’t travel.” The airline staff at the check-in counter noticed the 5-year business visa to India was expired and pointed out the expiration date, which the Microsoft executive could not understand immediately. He started scouring through his travel documents to find what went wrong. All the confusion evaporated at his shocking discovery – a misunderstanding.

10/2/2025 was the visa expiration date. Being an American, he read it as October 2, 2025. Naturally, he was under the impression that the business visa to India was valid through September 2025. In fact, the visa issued by India had the expiration date in the day/month/year format – which the airline staff explained to him. The day/month/year format on documents is followed in India and some other countries. It means his visa expired on 10 February 2025.

More real-life cases of date format mix-up                

Confusion over the US vs India date formats is common to not only travelers but also the airport staff and the airline crew. In 2023, an NRI ran into trouble while traveling back to USA from India. His Green Card had an expiration date of 11/01/2023. The airline crew read this as 11 January 2023 in the day-month-year format and stopped him before security checks. Actually, the Green Card was about to expire on November 01, 2023, as per the US date format (month-day-year). A senior supervisor intervened to clarify that the NRI was eligible for international travel and entry to the US.

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