During a recent discussion on the Union Budget 2026 in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of Indian Parliament), author and MP Sudha Murty recalled how she was treated on her first visit to the United States in 1970s and how India was looked upon back then. She shared an interesting anecdote from her travel memoirs to illustrate India’s global image that has undergone a sea change over the past two decades.

She set the clock back to 1979 when she visited the US and travelled by air for the first time. At Boston International Airport, the entry point in her itinerary, Sudha Murty stood in the immigration clearance queue. When her turn came, an immigration officer shot a spate of questions to her – why she came to the US, how long she would stay there, when she would go back, whether she had return flight tickets, where her husband lived in the US, what his salary was, how many dollars she had, and likes.

As a first-time young traveler to the US, Sudha Murty dealt with the entry inspection with some difficulty. She said she would stay 6 months there with her husband, Narayana Murthy. But the officer let her in for only 3 months without any explanation to her. This sort of questioning, maybe a little more than that, is rampant at major US airports these days, due to tightened CBP measures for both immigrants and non-immigrants, in the Trump administration.

When she proceeded for customs clearance, the customs officer keenly watched her from top to bottom and said, “What are you wearing so wavy and lengthy?” She replied, “A saree, a traditional attire for women.” Then he could not help but ask which country she came from. “India,” she said with an iota of pride.

What followed thereafter was an absolute surprise to Sudha Murty then. On hearing ‘India’, the customs officer went on to say, “Do you have snakes on the road?” “Is your father a Maharaja?” “Are there many magicians?” She countered his hilarious questions saying unassumingly that there were snakes in the fields, and that her father was a doctor, not a royal. He was wondering how she could speak so good English.

The officer further asked why she came to a developed country and checked her bags thoroughly. “He looked down upon me heavily as if I was an alien from a different planet. I felt sad and humiliated. India has given yoga, the concept of zero, so many things to the world. He treated me like one from some place with no history, no culture, no money…” she said in the Rajya Sabha.

A river of time has flown since then. The way the world thinks of India today is in stark contrast to what she experienced in the 1970s. After many years, she visited Canada and the US recently. She travelled to the US from Quebec City (Central Canada). Much to her pleasure, she had a different experience altogether this time, during the immigration and customs clearance in the US.

CBP officer: “Why have you come to the US?”

Sudha Murty: “I have a few lectures to deliver in America.”

CBP officer: “What are you?”

Sudha Murty: “I am an author and philanthropist.”

CBP officer: How long will you stay?

Sudha Murty: Only a week.

CBP officer: Welcome to America! Ours is a great country.

Incidentally, the officer felt curious to know which place in India she is from. “I am from South India. Precisely Bengaluru in Karnataka,” she said. “I see. Bengaluru, the famous Silicon Valley of India. I know some Indians who are IT professionals and work here. You Indians are very enterprising, hardworking, law-abiding, and large-hearted people. You invite everyone to celebrations and festivals. Indians are running unicorns here. You help each other a lot. Your food is excellent. Many Indian restaurants are in our country,” Sudha Murty happily recollected the officer’s words of admiration for India.

The post Sudha Murty Recalls Her First Visit to USA in 1979 and Her Immigration Experience; However, Things have Changed for Better first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post Sudha Murty Recalls Her First Visit to USA in 1979 and Her Immigration Experience; However, Things have Changed for Better appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

Effective 12 December 2025, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has tightened how photographs are used for immigration records, signaling a wider push toward stronger identity verification and fraud prevention in the system. The USCIS limits the age of a foreign national’s photo that can be used to create immigration documents to no more than three years.

Photo rules for international travel and immigration are changing fast, especially for Indians living overseas. Indian missions have also been enforcing the new ICAO passport photo rules for NRIs since 1 December 2025. For Indians applying for passport renewal or a new passport outside India, even a minor oversight in compliance to the passport photo guidelines can now lead to rejection.

What is the new USCIS photo policy for immigrants

Under the new USCIS photo policy, the agency will only reuse a previously captured photo if it was taken within the last three years. If your photo on record is older than 36 months, USCIS will not use it to issue immigration documents.

Another key change is that self-submitted photos are no longer acceptable. You cannot upload or mail your own photographs for immigration forms. Only photos taken by USCIS or authorized biometric service providers will be used for identity verification.

Why USCIS updated the photo rules

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, USCIS allowed photos up to 10 years old to be reused for certain applications that did not require new biometrics. During the pandemic, the agency temporarily allowed even older photos to be used to reduce in-person visits. In some cases, documents were issued using photos as old as 22 years.

After the pandemic, USCIS returned to the 10-year limit. However, the agency later decided that this timeframe was still too long and has now shortened the photo reuse limit to three years. USCIS says recent photos are essential for accurate identity verification. The updated policy strengthens security, improves record accuracy, and helps prevent identity fraud across the immigration system.

Who is affected by the new USCIS photo rules

The new photo policy applies to all immigrants and non-immigrants, regardless of nationality. Indian applicants are fully covered under this rule, with no exceptions. Some immigration forms do already require a new photo every time because a biometric appointment is mandatory. These include:

• Form I 90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
• Form I 485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
• Form N 400, Application for Naturalization
• Form N 600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship

For these applications, USCIS captures a fresh photo as part of the standard process.

How USCIS’ 3-year photo rule actually works

The three-year rule applies only when USCIS considers reusing an existing photo already in its records. If the photo is older than three years, it will not be reused. Applicants do not need to submit photos unless USCIS specifically asks for them. In most cases, photos will be taken during a scheduled biometric appointment.

USCIS can also request a new photo even if the existing one is less than three years old. The agency has full discretion to collect updated biometrics whenever needed. This rule mainly affects applications where photos were previously reused without a new biometric appointment.

FAQs

What the new USCIS photo policy means for Green Card holders

For Green Card holders, the process remains the same. Applications such as green card renewal or adjustment of status already require biometrics, including a new photo. Because USCIS captures a fresh image each time, the three-year photo reuse rule does not practically change the process for Green Card holders.

Does the new USCIS photo rule apply to Indian applicants

Yes. The USCIS photo policy applies equally to Indian applicants and applicants from all other countries. There are no nationality-based exemptions. Indian travelers and immigrants should also be aware of parallel photo rule updates for Indian passports when applying through embassies or consulates abroad.

The post USCIS Scraps Self-Submitted Photos of Immigrants and Tightens Photo Validity Rules for Documents first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

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Many Indians, both students and professionals, travel to the US with cheap flight tickets, two checked bags, dreams, aspirations, and a common goal – the most coveted Green Card. Their ‘American Dream is synonymous with achieving lawful permanent residency in the US. But not everyone has good luck with it despite taking calculated steps and offering prayers to visa temples. Over 1 million Indians, a majority being from the employment-based visa categories, are still stuck in the Green Card backlog, as per the USCIS stats.

However, “the American Dream – whatever it truly means – stays alive,” says Rajavasanth Rajasegar, who recently shared his 14-year-journey from F1 visa to Green Card on LinkedIn intending to rekindle hopes with the underlying message, “There is delay but no denial”. Like many others, he had had a fair share of uncertainty and anxiety while navigating the US immigration system until the “visa clock” stopped ticking for him.

Rajavasanth Rajasegar, an Assistant Professor at Colorado School of Mines, boarded a flight to Chicago in 2011 with the F1 visa stamp on his dreams. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In the pre-Trump era, his transition from the US student visa to OPT (STEM) to an H-1B visa was smooth and streamlined. There was no looking back after he became a faculty at his alma mater in 2013. “I have been fortunate to have a privileged path,” he wrote in his success story of receiving a US Green Card.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) was like home to him as a graduate research and teaching assistance for almost 8 years. He had a fully-funded tenure at UIUC. Thereafter, he spent five years of postdoctoral research at Sandia National Laboratories, America’s premier DOE science & engineering lab for national security and technology innovation. It broadened his first-hand knowledge of mechanical engineering and helped him get a tenure-track position of assistant professor in the same discipline at Colorado School of Mines in January 2024.

He credits his alma maters, mentors, and family for their “incredible support” throughout his journey from an F1 visa to becoming a permanent US resident. Despite the smooth transition, he was not immune to usual US visa worries. “The visa clock always loomed in the background. I still remember asking my manager in FEB 2020 – Can we start H1B just in case?” he wrote in the LinkedIn post.

Like HiCounselor CEO Aditya Sharma who got his Green Card faster in the EB1A category, Rajavasanth Rajasegar chose the EB1A path hoping for the best and the worst at the same time. His Green Card petition in the EB1A category (for foreign nationals of extraordinary ability or international acclaims in science, arts, education, business, or athletics) stumbled over few bumps, including a surprise RFE (request for evidence) questioning the merit of his work.

Two years of adjustment, patience, and paperwork for additional documentation supported by his mentors put an end to his wait for Green Card. “Finally, I became a permanent resident. That visa clock does not exist today,” he wrote. He concluded his ‘Green Card journey’ story from a non-immigrant to an immigrant, wishing “the American Dream stays alive and accessible for the students and professionals who, like me, come here not just for themselves, but to contribute to the future of USA.”

The post Finally I Got Green Card and H1B Visa Clock Stopped Ticking; this Indian in USA Shares his 14-year Journey first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post Finally I Got Green Card and H1B Visa Clock Stopped Ticking; this Indian in USA Shares his 14-year Journey appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

H1B visa is the most common pathway for skilled foreign professionals to work in the United States. The rule of thumb is that H1B visa workers from India and other countries can re-enter the US with a valid passport, a valid H1B visa stamp on the passport, Form I-797 Notice of H1B Status Approval, and other requisite documents. However, it seems that H1B visa holders’ re-entry into the US is not guaranteed in the volatile landscape of US immigration rules and restrictions.

In June 2025, an unprecedented event of boarding denial to three H1B visa workers sent shockwaves through the H1B visa community. They were flying back to USA via Abu Dhabi after a certain period of remote work/stay in India. They were stopped at the Abu Dhabi US Pre-clearance facility, questioned about their extended stay in India, and sent back home, according to several reports. While one of them spent 3 months in India, the other two stayed for nearly 3 months in India. The incident raised a spate of questions, like

• What are H1B visa travel rules?
• Are there official USCIS restrictions on H1B visa travel outside USA?
• How many days can H1B visa holders stay outside the US?

How Long can H1B Visa Holders Stay outside USA

There are no USCIS rules specifying a fixed number of days you on H1B Visa can stay or work outside the US. However, an extended period of stay abroad without actively working for your US employer can raise concerns at entry airports in USA or CBP preclearance facilities. Since your H1B visa status depends on your ongoing employment in the US, your long absence from the US is likely to make the CBP officers question whether you still have a valid position and the right to re-enter the US.

Many immigration attorneys recommend that H1B visa holders should keep international trips short, ideally within 30–40 days, unless they have strong proof of current employment status and payroll records. Under USCIS rules for traveling abroad on H1B visa, your stay beyond 60 days without clear proof of active work can make you a target for extra scrutiny during re-entry.

H1B Visa Travel Rules You Need To Follow

Traveling internationally on an H1B visa is allowed as long as you maintain valid status and have all necessary documents for safe return to USA. You should carry your valid H1B visa stamp, a valid passport, the original I-797 approval notice, remote work logs, and recent employment verification letters. According to H1B visa travel rules, you must be actively employed by your sponsoring company while abroad, and any extended time outside the US should be supported by clear payroll and work records.

H1B Visa Travel Restrictions and CBP Discretion

After the Abu Dhabi airport case, some social media users responded with claims that certain H1B visa travel restrictions are in place. But, in reality, there are neither hard and fast rules nor restrictions for H1B travel. Technically, you can stay outside the US for as long as you want. However, the longer you stay abroad, the greater the risk that CBP officers would question your employment status in America. If they believe your employment has ended or you have abandoned your job, they have the authority to cancel your visa on spot, even if it is valid on your passport.

USCIS Rules for Traveling Abroad on H1B Visa

USCIS allows travel abroad during your H1B validity period, but your visa status is tied to your job in the US. If you lose your job while overseas or are in a 60-day grace period, you may not be able to re-enter. Days spent outside the US can sometimes be “recaptured” to extend your H1B validity period, but this is a separate process that does not protect you from US re-entry scrutiny.

Can H1B Visa Holders Work Remotely outside the US?

Working remotely from abroad while on an H1B visa is not automatically prohibited, but it is risky if it becomes prolonged. Your visa is granted for employment in the US, tied to a specific work location in your petition. Extended remote work from another country may make CBP question if your role still exists in the US. If you must work remotely from India or elsewhere for more than a few months, keep strong evidence that your duties and payroll remain unchanged.

DISCLAIMER: This article has generic information for the awareness purpose. The article should not be construed as an official source of advice or information. Readers are encouraged to consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice tailored to their specific circumstances. Indian Eagle and Travel Beats assume no responsibility for actions taken based on this article.

The post How Many Days can H1B Visa Holders Travel and Stay outside USA? Are there any USCIS Rules? first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post How Many Days can H1B Visa Holders Travel and Stay outside USA? Are there any USCIS Rules? appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

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.

The post US Visa Interview Waiver Update July 25: Dropbox Option to be Eliminated for All Nonimmigrants first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post US Visa Interview Waiver Update July 25: Dropbox Option to be Eliminated for All Nonimmigrants appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

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.

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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.

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.

The post CBP Officers have Ramped up Scrutiny for Green Card Holders, Mainly Elderly, Returning to USA from Abroad first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

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On one hand, Elon Musk-led DOGE team is working towards reducing federal deficit, and on the other hand, President Trump is coming up with ways to fuel the US economy. One such move is Trump’s Gold Card – the quickest route to US citizenship for the affluent. The Trump 2.0 administration introduced a new immigration initiative – ‘Gold Card’ program – with a hefty price tag for foreign millionaires seeking to bypass the Green Card backlog. The American Dream would soon be elusive to the less affluent.

What is Trump’s Gold Card for rich immigrants?

Scheduled to be launched in the next two weeks, the Gold Card program promises to lay the easiest and shortest pathway to the most coveted US citizenship at a whopping cost of $5 million. The new US investor visa is designed to simplify the immigration process and reduce bureaucratic delays for high-net-worth foreign individuals. President Trump’s $5-million Gold Card visa is not an alternative to the existing EB-5 Visa. Rather, it aims to put an end to EB-5 Visa which the Trump government dismisses as “full of nonsense, ridiculous, and fraud.”

Another objective of replacing the EB5 investment visa with the new ‘Gold Card’ is to pump trillion dollars of foreign investment into the US economy. At a recent press conference, Trump projected that issuing approximately one million Gold Cards could inject around $5 trillion into the US economy. He went on to suggest that if up to ten million cards were issued, the total investment might reach an astounding $50 trillion—a move he believes would significantly lessen the nation’s $35 trillion debt burden.

Impact of Trump’s Gold Card Visa on Indians in USA

Many Indians on H1B, L1, and O1 visas have obtained lawful permanent residency through the EB5 investor program. A switch from a non-immigrant work visa to an immigrant visa like EB5 became their favorite path to secure a Green Card and live the American Dream. The EB-5 visa requires Green Card seekers to create minimum 10 jobs in USA by investing $800,000-$1.05 million, one-fifth of USD 5 million for the new ‘Gold Card’ visa. With EB-5 Visa being replaced with an exorbitantly priced Gold Card, non-immigrant Indians may find it impossible to obtain a Green Card through investment.

Also Read: Indian American CEO shares his short journey from H1B visa to Green Card

The premium US residency model or Gold Card signals a paradigm shift in Trump’s take on immigration. This mirrors the global trend of wealth-based immigration among countries vying to attract high-net-worth individuals. The UAE, Portugal, and Australia have been actively promoting golden visa schemes. Henley & Partners’ 2025 Global Residence Program Index ranks Greece as the top destination in this space, followed by Switzerland and Portugal.  The US’ entry to this competitive space, with Trump’s Gold Card program, commodifies lawful permanent residency and American citizenship.

The post What is Gold Card Visa? President Trump Announces New Quick Path to US Citizenship first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post What is Gold Card Visa? President Trump Announces New Quick Path to US Citizenship appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

With the H1B visa registration window for fiscal 2026 opening on March 7, the US Department of Homeland Security brought new H1B visa rules to reform the system for both American employers and foreign workers. Effective from January 17, 2025, the H1B program modernization rule redefines ‘specialty occupation’, enhances transparency, reduces visa fraud, assures seamless visa extension, and updates the lottery process.

Beneficiary-Centric Selection Process

Unlike previous years, multiple employers cannot submit applications for the same candidate. USCIS has implemented enhanced measures to prevent duplicate filings by employers for the same beneficiary and ensure that each applicant has an equal chance. Any employer submitting multiple registrations for the same candidate will face disqualification from the H1B lottery system.

New Definition of ‘Specialty Occupation’

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has refined the definition of “specialty occupation” as part of the H1B visa modernization rule in 2025. Previously, possessing a bachelor’s degree in a specific field might have sufficed. Now, your degree must be directly related to the position and the job responsibilities. Employers can list multiple acceptable fields of study, but each must have a clear connection to the job description.

Regular Worksite Inspections

To prevent H1B visa fraud and misuse, the USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) unit will conduct more frequent worksite inspections, including at third-party client sites. Employers who deny these inspections risk having their petitions denied or revoked. It is essential for companies to maintain detailed records and ensure full compliance with H-1B regulations.

H1B Extension Approval without Re-evaluation

In the new H1B visa rules, USCIS officers are now instructed to defer to prior approvals when deciding on H-1B extension requests. Only if there has been no material change in the previous approval. This means if your job, employer, and circumstances remain unchanged, your visa extension request is more likely to be approved without re-evaluation. However, all required documents must still be provided.

Other H1B Visa Updates for Indians

• The H1B registration fee has increased from $10 to $215 per applicant. This move is intended to deter non-serious applicants and reduce unnecessary applications.
• Employers seeking to extend the H-1B worker’s stay must now submit proof that the worker has maintained their previous visa status. This requirement also applies to H-4 dependents.
• To ensure fairness and prevent fraud, USCIS will conduct more frequent audits and reviews of H-1B registrations during the month of March 2025. Employers must maintain accurate records and provide truthful information to avoid penalties.

The H-1B visa program is evolving under the Trump administration, bringing both positive reforms and stricter compliance measures. Undoubtedly, with the new H1B visa rules for fiscal 2026, the focus is shifting towards a fair and merit based selection process. Whether President Trump brings additional challenges or opens up new pathways, it remains to be seen. For now, the key is to stay informed, act promptly, and prepare thoroughly.

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The post New H1B Visa Rules Redefine Specialty Occupation, Assure Easy Renewals, Reduce Fraud first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post New H1B Visa Rules Redefine Specialty Occupation, Assure Easy Renewals, Reduce Fraud appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

Is the US President above the law? Could he scrape off a constitutional guarantee to those born on the American soil? Is it legal for the President to violate or deny a constitutional amendment? Is an executive order above the Constitution?

These questions are making waves on the international fore, as Donald Trump signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship for the US-born children of immigrants, right after he took oath as 47^th President of America. This is part of Trump’s hardline immigration policies which could not take shape during his first term in the White House’s Oval Office. In USA, birthright citizenship is a 150-year-old constitutional principle that says, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States.”

“We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in, has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years with all of those benefits. It’s ridiculous. It has to end…” Trump said rhetorically during his election campaigns promising to tighten the noose around immigration, while seemingly unaware of the fact that America is one of the 30 countries (including Canada) offering birthright citizenship, according to the Center for Immigration Studies.

The US Constitution was amended 150 years ago (the 14^th Amendment in 1868) to include and protect the right to citizenship for those born or naturalized on the American soil. But President Trump’s executive order expounded the argument, “The 14th Amendment has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States…”

Who will be affected by Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship?

The Trump order eliminating birthday citizenship will affect not only undocumented immigrants, but also legal non-immigrants including H1B, H4, B2, F1, F2, L1, L2 and other visa holders. Undeniably, a majority of legal non-immigrant visa holders in the US are Indians.

As per the presidential order briefing, kids born after 30 days from the date of the order issued shall not be granted US citizenship if their fathers are neither US citizens nor lawful permanent residents, and if their mothers are lawfully but temporarily present in the US, like on a tourist or student visa. President Trump has already directed federal agencies not to issue American passports for and not to accept US citizenship documents issued by state governments for those kids.

The presidential order further states “the privilege of US citizenship does not automatically extend to persons born in the United States when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States at the time of said person’s birth was lawful but temporary (such as, but not limited to, visiting the United States under the auspices of the Visa Waiver Program or visiting on a student, work, or tourist visa) and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth.”

It is evident from the above that Trump’s executive order to end US birthright citizenship may also affect Indian families stuck in the Green Card backlog, as they are neither lawful permanent residents nor US citizens. Uncertainty looms large over the future of the US-born kids of a million Indians stuck in the Green Card backlog, which is being anticipated to have nearly 22 lakh Indians holding various US work visas by the year 2030.

President Trump’s plan to erase the birthright citizenship guarantee in the 14^th Amendment of the US Constitution has split up the nation into two different hemispheres; one supporting the POTUS, with their immovable faith in his vision, and the other condemning his plan as a ‘blatantly unconstitutional attempt to sow division’, thereby encouraging hate crimes against immigrants in the US.

Even Trump’s defenders, who are collectively referred to as immigration hardliners, are divided in opinion. One group of them finds birthright citizenship a ‘great magnet for illegal immigration in the USA’, while the other group has thumbed down the executive order to end birthright citizenship for the US-born children of immigrants. Notably, the American Civil Liberties Union has denounced Donald Trump’s interpretation of the 14^th Amendment of the US Constitution.

Interestingly, a survey in 2015 by the Pew Research Center found that 37% of Americans questioned the relevance of birthright citizenship, before Trump rose to the presidential power. The number of babies born to undocumented immigrants meteorically rose to a whopping 370,000 in 2016, according to the Pew Research Center. The antagonists of birthright citizenship sarcastically call those babies ‘anchor babies’.

Nearly 200,000 Indian American children from a Microsoft engineer to ‘DALCA Kids’ (Deferred Action for Legal Childhood Arrivals) are caught up in the turbulence of immigration in the Trump regime. President Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship may shatter the ecosystem of US immigration, according to legal scholars.

The post Trump Scraps Birthright Citizenship for US-born Kids of Immigrants; It will Mostly Affect H1B and H4 Visa Holders first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post Trump Scraps Birthright Citizenship for US-born Kids of Immigrants; It will Mostly Affect H1B and H4 Visa Holders appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.