Kamal Ghorui
A techie-doctor couple considers moving to Dubai from the US because of the long wait for Green Card.
As the H-1B visa stamping delays are continuing in India, accounts of how Indians are either stuck in India or can’t travel to India, even during family emergencies, are plenty on social media platforms. After an Indian man shared the heartbreaking situation of not being able to visit his mother in India before she died, a techie-doctor couple shared how they are thinking of relocating to Dubai. Their story was shared by immigration analyst Sam Peak who did not reveal their names and took their permission before sharing their situation on social media.The man is a techie working in the US for over a decade and his wife is a top cardiologist at a top-tier hospital on the East Coast. The techie said he has a National Interest Waiver which means his work is so important to the US that he is eligible for a faster Green Card without requiring any employer sponsorship — because he is an asset to the country, not only to any specific company.While this NIW makes him eligible for a faster Green Card, he’s stuck in a long queue “because of the way the system in backed up”.“My wife is in a similar boat, which is the real kicker. She’s an elite cardiologist at a top-tier hospital on the East Coast. She’s published tons of research andis a total rockstar in heart health, but she hasn’t been able to fly home to see her family of her dog in over three years. Every time she thinks about leaving, the nightmare of trying to get a visa appointment to gt back in stops us cold,” the techie wrote adding that how they believe in American Dream and how his doctor wife has to swear an oath of allegiance just to do her job.“But honestly, we’re just exhausted. Being told you’re essential but being treated like you’re temporary wears you down. We’re at the point where we’re seriously looking at moving to Dubai. It sucks to leave when you love the values here, but we can’t put our lives and our ability to see family on hold for another decade,” the man wrote.
Why H-1B holders in the US can’t visit India
H-1B visa holders in the US get a stamp in their passport, which is required to enter the US. The validity of that stamp is around three years, corresponding to the validity of their H-1B visa. After three years, for example, they get their visa extended but the stamp remains expired. And a new stamping can be done only at consulates in the home country. Many H-1B visa holders continue in the US with an expired stamp as the stamp is only needed to re-enter the US and so they don’t leave the country. Before visiting India, they usually get an appointment in a consulate for a fresh stamping. But since December 2025, there has been a crisis over stamping delays as all dates are rescheduled and now slots are open only in 2027.
