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Abhishek Singh, a 42-year-old software engineering manager in Washington state, has lived in the US for a decade on an H-1B visa. He initially thought the new $100,000 H-1B fee would apply to him — and for a few harrowing hours, he and his wife began making plans to uproot their lives and return to India.
It turned out that the fee only applies to new H-1Bs, not current holders like Singh. He says the episode shook his confidence. After nine years of waiting for a green card, and with no guarantee that future policy changes won’t upend his family’s life, Singh says he is still considering moving back to India for the first time since he arrived in the US.
He told Business Insider why he still supports President Donald Trump, even though the policy has left him ready to leave the country he once hoped to call home. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
I thought I’d have to leave the US imminently
Most H-1Bs are Indians. I’m Indian. I came here 10 years ago with Amazon, made a life here, and I’m thankful to the USA.
That morning, before the Trump administration clarified current holders wouldn’t be affected, I thought there was no way I could raise $100,000 to pay this fee and that I would eventually need to leave or be removed by ICE.
Me and my wife planned everything: what should we do with our dog, how to pack everything, how long we have. Those 12 hours were my hardest in the USA.
Even though I’m not directly affected, I still might leave the US
I’m concerned that if these kinds of policies can be turned out in one day, why wouldn’t there be more updates to this policy which can impact me in the future? I’m worried about that part. I haven’t seen any positive signs from the administration saying something like, we won’t touch any legal residents.
I hadn’t thought of leaving the US before. It all started that morning when I posted on LinkedIn about leaving. I am still considering moving out, and India is my first choice, since it’s my home country.
I still support Trump, just not this policy
I still support the Trump administration even though I think this decision, in my opinion, will harm the US economy.
I’m a big supporter of Trump. I even fought with my neighbors when they were talking against him. The reason is simple: what he was talking about in his rallies was all about making America great. Everyone should be proud of their country and make it better. I wanted that, too, and if the US grows, I grow.
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I support what Trump is doing against illegal immigrants. Any country has the right to do that.
Indians are here legally. They’re law-abiding people.
I haven’t seen any evidence that H-1Bs take American jobs
If people are capable, they should get the job. Do we have any data of how many people there are in the US who are unemployed because of H-1Bs? We are talking about this problem, but there’s no numbers to support that.
I need stability in my life
I am sad. I never thought I would move out. I planned to get a green card and get citizenship in the future. But things are not working out. It’s making my life unstable — that’s something nobody wants. With two kids to raise, I want stability in my life so I can raise them in a proper environment.
I’m definitely waiting for my green card, but that queue is not moving at all. It’s been nine years now. I applied as soon as I came to the US. Nine years, and it’s not moving. I wish it had been approved.
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