Nishi Sharma was supposed to fly back to the US after a three-week stay in India, but the airline offloaded
her telling her that her immigration had been cancelled because she was on an H-4 visa.
The airline tells her only green card holders and US citizens are allowed to travel to the U.S.
Ever changing travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 scare have left many Indian American and other travelers confused, puzzled and sometimes stranded abroad.
Utah based Indian techie Ashish Sharma’s wife Nishi Sharma was all set to board her flight from Bangalore, India on Thursday to return to the US after a three-week stay for a family emergency.
However, she was in for a shock as the airline offloaded her telling her that her immigration had been cancelled because she was on an H-4 visa for dependent spouses.
“My wife was supposed to travel from Bangalore airport,” Sharma told the American Bazaar from Salt Lake City,Utah, where the family lives. “She is on H4. Her flight route was from Bangalore to Dubai to Seattle to Salt Lake City.”
She was issued a boarding pass after clearing the immigration, but while she was waiting to board the flight, she was off loaded by the airline and her immigration was cancelled.
ALSO READ: India bans travel from US, rest of the world beginning March 22 for one week (March 19, 2020)
“The reason given to her, Sharma said, “was that they got instructions from US Customs and Border Protection that only green card holders or US citizens are allowed to travel to the US.”
Nishi was supposed to fly via Emirates airlines. The refusal came as a shock to the family because she was undertaking the journey in an emergency situation as she had traveled back to India from the US when her father passed away three weeks ago.
“My wife was trying to get back to her home in the US and take care of two young kids who are waiting for their mom,” Sharma said.
The couple was also diligent enough to take all necessary travel precautions. Sharma says, “Given the current situation, just a day before my wife had to travel I called the US embassy in India and got a confirmation that there are no travel restrictions as such. She even had an email saying the same from the embassy.”
After the incident, Sharma again wrote back to the US Embassy in Delhi and is still awaiting for an answer. He says, “I will book tickets only once I have confirmation from the embassy.”
Asked if there were other passengers who were not allowed to travel, Sharma said one more passenger was also de-boarded.
Puzzled by his experience even after the US Embassy in India, assured him that there were no travel restrictions on H4 visa holders, Ashish took to social media to find if anyone else had a similar experience.
Many were equally surprised as they think that US Customs and Border Protection cannot be filtering passengers by visa type. Travel restrictions should be on countries and perhaps the airline officials got it wrong.
But for now, amidst the confusion the family awaits a response from the US embassy to decide what to do next.
(A previous version of the story had misspelled Mr. Sharma’s first name.)
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12 Comments
Good. We need them to take what they learned and help India remove caste system and make India great again. We have given too much and have been abused.
Sad but that has to happen… Only American and green card were allowed in US. I guess they should have chked to rule before boarding the flight.it keeps chaning
Like sharma ji many other family has to suffer. Their story is nothing spl.
All have to suffer, but for a month, hopefully.
Good. Now let’s offload ALL INDIAN TECHIES from the US entirely. Get rid of these bozos now, this country does not need them and they’ve long overstayed their welcome. Send all Indians back ASAP.
You are an asshole. Period.
and your mom was a stinkin 3rd world HO… what does that make you?? left crap like you behind before she popped off, uggghhhh.
@Vince Civiletto Go back to Italy. You’re not even a real “American”..
No wonder Highly skilled Indians are running Sillicon Valley and make more than average “Vinces” like you…
Stupid azz bi…
We don’t want or need you. Take “high skills” with you!!!!
“Yeah right Fredo.”
Freaking moron and his stupid-ass wife!! Bum isn’t aware what’s going on in the world. NO TRAVEL TO THE US UNLESS YOU’RE A CITIZEN OR HOLD A GREEN CARD. Stay in india and don’t come to US, dumb useless people.
Itna gussa kyun Patel bhai
Hey Moron
It’s unfortunate thIs happened to this family. Her passed away ..family emergencies can happen to anyone
why are you shouting like corona….hold your tongue asshole.