Corona: Confusion For Indians Working In The US About Suspension Visa

The coronavirus panic has brought an unexpected worry for the Kumar family in Ohio. The family had planned to travel to India this coming weekend, long back. While the family is on a visa in the US and does not require an Indian visa to travel, their anxiety is about their toddler who is a US citizen.

If the family cancels all travel plans, at least for now, then Kumars would only lose some money in the process. The Shah family in NJ is facing another difficulty.

Their visiting elderly parents were to travel back to India soon, but now it’s risky to send the elderly on a transatlantic flight in the times of Coronavirus fear.

The Shahs are puzzled as their parents’ limit of 6-month stay on the B1/B2 visa is expiring. They are now worried about whether to get their visas extended.

They are consulting attorneys on how to go about it and whether the extension in any way would reflect negatively in their visa record in the future.

However, immigration attorneys believe that in these extraordinary times the authorities will make every legitimate consideration. People must not panic, they suggest.

There are widespread anxiety and confusion among hundreds of Indians working and living in the US due to various travel restrictions as well as the Indian government’s decision to suspend all existing visas except diplomatic, official, UN/international organizations, employment, project visas till April 15.

The visa-free travel facility for OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders has also been suspended until April 15.

While the majority of people are voluntarily canceling any non-emergency travel plans to contain the spread as well as avoiding exposure to the virus, things are looking a bit trying for those who are also stuck in immigration issues.