Kamal Ghorui
A major row has erupted over the viral post of Indian techie Gautam Dey who lamented that he could not visit his dying mother for one last time owing to the visa stamping delays.
After Gautam Dey’s LinkedIn post on how he could not travel to India to see his dying mother one last time because of consular issues, a major controversy erupted as many people pointed out that he should have chosen his mother back home instead of his life in the US. Many social media users questioned how he had been living in the US for 20 years on the H-1B visa program — with his family — and why he was expecting something else to happen while he knew that his life in the US was temporary and he chose money when it came down to a crucial situation like this. Many experts, including Indian-origin entrepreneurs, however, stood by Dey and said the backlash was unwarranted as there could be many factors why Dey could not get a Green Card.“If America is no longer a place where people feel empowered to be the best versions of themselves as they celebrate, struggle, and grieve, it ceases not just being the land of opportunity, but also the land of dignity and purpose,” immigration policy analyst Sam Peak said.Indian-origin entrepreneur Vijay Thirumalai called out MAGA, who are pillorying Dey asking why he did not become a permanent resident in 20 years in the US. “All those talking about why he did that, H1B IS A DUAL INTENT VISA (Dual intent to work & eventual path go GC) which is now in a mess because of Archaic country caps,” Thirumalai posted, calling the incident ‘so sad overall’. He also cited other reasons for which it was a difficult choice for Dey.“So all the MAGA tards pontificating on what the H1Bs should and should not do, stop pontificating & go after illegal immigrants, not the honest , tax paying Indian H1Bs coz once they decide they are done, all the equity you have built in your cozy homes, all the tech dominance and everything else will come crashing down,” Thirumalai posted.
‘You chose money over mother’
Gautam Dey wrote in his heartfelt LinkedIn post that he could not go to India as he could not get a visa stamping appointment in India. He said he sent the hospital documents to the Consulate explaining how urgent it was for him to visit India but even after trying for 26 days, he could not get an appointment and his mother passed away. If he traveled to India without an appointment for visa stamping, he would not be able to re-enter the US and would have to wait in India for months for a slot to open.Thousands of H-1B visa holders who traveled to India last December got stranded in their home country as all visa slots were rescheduled and even now, there are no fresh slots opening.“You do not have to measure success only by leaving home. Because no career dream should ever put you in a position where you must choose between your mother’s final moments and your children’s future. I lost that choice. And I will carry that pain forever,” Dey wrote only to be slammed by users that he himself chose money over his mother.
