Passengers on a crowded plane were seen rushing to exit the aircraft after learning that Donald Trump had increased foreign visa fees to a staggering £74,000. At San Francisco airport, several passengers attempted to leave an Emirates flight bound for Dubai just before departure, fearing they would incur the fee if they re-entered the US after the specified deadline of September 21.
Confusion arose when conflicting statements were made regarding the nature of the fee imposed by the Administration. Initially thought to be an annual fee by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the White House later clarified that it would be a one-time charge. The fee affected H-1B visas, a temporary category for highly educated foreign professionals, but did not impact current visa holders.
Masud Rana, who recorded the incident, reported that the commotion caused a three-hour delay. Despite typically not allowing passengers to deplane once boarded, the pilot made an exception due to the “unprecedented” circumstances. The captain addressed the passengers, acknowledging those who wished to disembark.
Rana described the scene as “complete chaos” in a social media post, highlighting the anxiety among passengers, particularly from India. The visa announcement led to travel disruptions across the US as foreign workers scrambled to return before the deadline. The H-1B visa program attracts skilled foreign workers to fill specialized roles in the US, with a majority employed in computer-related fields, according to the Pew Research Center.
Leavitt clarified that existing H-1B visa holders currently outside the US would not face the $100,000 re-entry fee, reassuring that their ability to enter and exit the country remained unaffected by the recent proclamation.