He had been in Nagpur, India for the anniversary of his father's death before he cut his trip short. On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order adding a $100,000 (£74,000) fee for applicants to the visa programme for skilled foreign workers which US-based companies would have to pay. Companies and immigration lawyers had already advised those on the H-1B visa who were outside the US to return before the order came into force Sunday.  A day later, the White House clarified it would be a one-time fee and would not apply to current visa holders, but it was too late for some.

Workers from India receive by far the most skilled visas in the programme, at more than 70% of the 85,000 issued each year. Despite the clarification posted on X by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, concern and confusion had already spread. The BBC spoke to many H-1B visa holders from India. Many have been working in the US for decades. None wanted to be identified as they were not authorised by their employers. Many refused to speak to us entirely. Rohan Mehta, a software professional, has lived in the US with his family for 11 years but had travelled to Nagpur at the beginning of the month to see relatives commemorating his father's death.

But on 20 September, he said he feared he would not be able to return to his home if he did not get back before the deadline. He spent over $8,000 (£5,900) in eight hours booking and rebooking return flights to the US. "I booked multiple options because most were cutting it very close," he said just after he had boarded a Virgin Atlantic flight from Mumbai to John F. Kennedy International Airport. "Even if there was a slight delay, I'd have missed the deadline." (BBC)