Troubles mount! One in six NRIs on H-1B visas feel threat of US deportation; many thinking of returning to India: Poll

Time of India

a day ago

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H-1B visa trouble:
A growing number of Indian professionals in the US on H-1B visas are facing an unexpected and alarming threat of deportation landing on their doorsteps before the official 60-day grace period even runs out.
Laid off and staring down the barrel of a possible permanent US ban, many say it feels like a ticking time bomb.
According to a poll of 1,584 verified professionals conducted on the anonymous workplace app Blind between August 6 and August 8, 2025, one in six (16%) said they or someone they know has received a Notice to Appear (NTA) within the grace period after being laid off.
Under normal rules, H-1B workers have 60 days to find a new employer or change visa status after job loss.
But since mid-2025, reports have emerged of NTAs being issued within as little as two weeks, labelling recipients 'out of status.'
'Multiple cases where NTAs were sent in 2 weeks.' a Meta user wrote on Blind.
'Immigration lawyers now advise leaving as soon as possible after [the] job ends otherwise you risk a permanent ban from the US,' the user added.
This sudden escalation is forcing many to rethink long-term plans.
Between July 28 and August 8, 2025, workplace community app Blind surveyed 2,089 verified Indian professionals in the US on work visas such as H-1B and L1, revealing deep concerns about job security and the future of US immigration.
In the survey of 2,089 verified Indian professionals, 45% said they would return to India if forced to leave, 26% would move to another country, and 29% were unsure.
What are NRIs biggest concerns about leaving US?
When asked about their biggest concerns over leaving the US, respondents cited a significant pay cut (25%), lower quality of life (24%), cultural or family adjustment (13%), and fewer job opportunities (10%).
Interestingly, 28% said they would have no concerns and would be open to leaving.
On whether they would still opt for a US work visa if given the chance again, only 35% said 'yes.'
While 27% were unsure and 38% said 'no,' pointing to a clear shift in how Indian professionals view the long-term value of immigrating to the US.
What is driving this change?
Real experiences are driving this change. More than one in three respondents (35%) said they or someone close to them had been forced to leave the US after losing a job while on a work visa, often under the looming threat of deportation during the brief grace period.
The findings suggest a growing openness to leaving the US, with many indicating they would return to India if it came to that.
Trump's recent call sparks sharp divide
US President Donald Trump's recent call for US companies to 'stop hiring in India' has sparked a sharp divide in opinion.
Among US-based professionals, 63% felt the move could benefit their companies, while 69% of India-based respondents believed it would hurt their firms.
When asked if they or someone close to them had ever been forced to leave the US after being laid off, 10% said it happened to them directly, 25% said it happened to someone close, and 65% said no.
The growing anxieties reflect a broader shift in the perception of the H-1B pathway, once seen as a golden ticket to American opportunities, now increasingly viewed as a high-risk gamble.
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