As delays in H-1B visa stamping continue in India, there are a lot of reports on social media platforms about how Indians are either stuck in India or cannot travel to India even during family emergencies. After an Indian man shared his heartbreaking plight of not being able to meet his mother in India before her death, a techie-doctor couple shared how they are thinking of relocating to Dubai. His story was shared by immigration analyst Sam Peek, who did not disclose his name and sought his permission before sharing his situation on social media.The man is a techie who has been working in the US for over a decade and his wife is a top cardiologist in a top-tier hospital on the east coast. The techie said she has a national interest waiver, meaning her work is so important to the U.S. that she’s eligible for a fast-track green card without requiring any employer sponsorship — because she’s an asset to the country, not just to a specific company.While this NIW makes him eligible for a faster green card, he is stuck in a long queue because of “the way the system is backed up.”“My wife is in a similar boat, which is the real kicker. She’s an elite cardiologist at a top-tier hospital on the East Coast. She’s published tons of research and is an absolute rockstar in heart health, but she hasn’t been able to go home to see her dog family in over three years. Every time she thinks about going, the nightmare of trying to get a visa appointment to go back leaves us cold,” the techie wrote as they How they believe in the American Dream and how theirs. A doctor’s wife has to take an oath of allegiance to do her job.“But honestly, we’re tired. Being told you’re essential, but being treated as a fluke gets you tired. We are at the point where we are seriously considering moving to Dubai. It sucks to leave when you love the values here, but we can’t put our ability to see our lives and our families on hold for another decade,” the person wrote.
Why can’t H-1B holders in America come to India?
H-1B visa holders in the US get a stamp in their passport, which is required to enter the US. The validity of that stamp is approximately three years, corresponding to the validity of their H-1B visa. For example, after three years, their visa gets extended but the stamp expires. And new stamps can only be obtained at consulates in the home country. Many H-1B visa holders remain in the US with an expired stamp because the stamp is required only to re-enter the US and therefore not leave the country. Before coming to India, they usually get an appointment at the Consulate to get a fresh stamp. But there has been a crunch over the delay in stamping beyond December 2025 as all the dates have been rescheduled and slots are now open only in 2027.
