Uncertainty over return to U.S. haunts non-immigrants stuck in India

Vinayak, 27, a pc engineer, who has been working in California in the U.S. on a H1B visa since 2018, got here down to Bengaluru final month to attend to his ailing mom after she examined optimistic for COVID-19 and was admitted to a hospital. But, his plans to return have been thwarted by the journey restrictions from India imposed by the U.S. administration, protecting most non-immigrants, in the sunshine of the sharp surge in COVID-19 instances.

“Due to the travel ban, I am stuck here indefinitely even though I have a valid visa stamping,” mentioned Mr. Vinayak, whereas expressing fears about dropping his job if the corporate he works for didn’t want to proceed using him remotely. “The unsureness of situation has been giving me anxiety attacks and I haven’t slept peacefully in the last week. Seeing me anxious has also taken a toll on my mother’s health,” he mentioned.

Mr. Vinayak is simply one of many a whole lot of non-immigrants working in the U.S. or their relations, who’re stuck in Bengaluru and completely different components of the nation due to the Presidential Proclamation 10199 of April 30, 2021, that suspends the entry of non-immigrants, who have been current in India throughout 14-day interval previous their tried entry into the U.S.

Antara, mom of a 22-month-old child, arrived in India alongside together with her husband in March 2021 when the COVID-19 instances have been low, to be together with her ageing mother and father in Ranchi for just a few days. While her husband managed to return to the U.S. earlier than the journey ban was introduced, she and her son are unable to rejoin him.

The journey ban by the U.S. was adopted by the closure of its consulates. Ms. Antara now wants to look ahead to the consulates to reopen for appointments in order that she will be able to get her visa stamped. “My baby keeps asking for his Papa. He plays with a picture of his father, who is thousands of miles away. This sight breaks my heart,” she advised The Puucho over telephone.

A petition began on change.org asking U.S. President Joe Biden to “allow non-immigrant visaholders stuck in India to return to the U.S.” has acquired assist from not solely non-immigrant visaholders stuck in India, but additionally a lot of their relations and family in the U.S. from whom that they had been separated.

“My husband went to attend his mother’s funeral and he got stuck in India due to closure of visa services and also travel ban. I am here with my two young kids and lot of monthly commitments and no job, salary (sic). Please lift travel ban and resume visa appointments ASAP,” wrote Himabindu Penikalapati on the petition.

The petition began earlier this month, having signatures of greater than 7,200 on Wednesday, has made an “urgent request” to the “US consulates to consider deploying contingency non-immigrant visa services for work-visa holders, and their dependants to review and accommodate the massive application backlog. Provisions such as mail-in processing of non-immigrant visas and/or virtual interview appointments may be a way to expedite this process”.

“Allow a conditional travel ban exemption for non-immigrant (H1B/H4/L1/L2) visa holders with an approved and valid petition from USCIS, with mandatory provisions of a negative RT-PCR test, 14-day quarantine and vaccination proof etc. that have already been extended to international students, greencard holders, and U.S. citizens travelling from India at present,” the petition has requested.

A spokesperson for the U.S. consulate basic in Chennai mentioned all routine visa appointments on the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai had been cancelled, however added that the cancellations have been due to COVID-19 and unrelated to the Presidential Proclamation 10199.

Apart from college students and sure teachers collaborating in J-1 change customer applications beginning August 2021 or later, who’re exempted from the Presidential Proclamation, employees, who’re in search of to present important assist for crucial infrastructure sectors in the US could qualify for National Interest Exception, as could their dependants, the spokesperson mentioned.

The spokesperson additionally mentioned that “non-immigrant visa holders (including H1-B holders) who are not subject to Presidential Proclamation 10199 based on their familial relationship to a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident spouse or unmarried minor child do not need a National Interest Exception. Such travellers should bring proof of the qualifying relationship to present to airline officials when initiating travel to the United States”.