1 in 6 NRIs on H-1B under Sudden Threat of Deportation, Pushing Nearly Half to Consider Returning to India
One in six Indian H-1B visa holders or someone they know has been served a deportation notice (Notice to Appear, NTA) within the 60-day grace period after being laid off and often faced the risk of a permanent ban from the U.S., according to a poll of 1,583 participants posted on August 6, 2025 on Blind, the anonymous community app for verified professionals. Nearly half said they would return to India if forced to leave.
Normally, laid-off H-1B workers in the U.S. are granted a 60-day grace period to secure a new employer or change their visa status. But since mid-2025, reports have surged of NTAs being issued well before the grace period ends, in some cases within just two weeks, and deemed “out of status.”
“Multiple cases where NTAs were sent in 2 weeks.” a Meta user wrote on Blind. “Immigration lawyers now advise leaving as soon as possible after [the] job ends otherwise you risk a permanent ban from the US.”
This growing uncertainty is reshaping long-term plans. In another Blind survey, 45% of Indian professionals on U.S. work visas said they would consider returning to India if they lost their job and had to leave the country. 26% would relocate to another country, and 29% remained undecided.
The biggest fears holding them back from leaving the U.S. were significant pay cut (25%), lower quality of life (24%), cultural or family adjustment (13%) and fewer job opportunities (10%).
When asked if they would choose a U.S. work visa again, only 35% said "yes.” The remaining 65% were either unsure (27%) or outright negative (38%), reflecting a shift in sentiment about the long-term value of U.S. immigration.
That shift is grounded in real experiences. Over one in three (35%) reported that either they or someone close to them had to leave the U.S. after losing their job, often facing deportation risks during the short grace period. Taken together, the data suggest a growing number are now prepared to consider leaving the U.S., with many looking to return to India.
Separately, Trump’s recent call for American companies to “stop hiring in India” has split opinion sharply along geographic lines: 63% of U.S.-based professionals said the move could benefit their companies, while 69% of India-based respondents said it would have a negative impact.
Methodology
Blind conducted a survey on its platform between July 28 and August 8, 2025. A total of 2,089 verified Indian professionals currently working in the U.S. on work visas, such as H-1B or L1, participated in the survey. Respondents were asked the following questions:
- Have you or someone close to you ever been forced to leave the U.S. after being laid off while on a work visa?
- Yes, it happened to me (10%)
- Yes, it happened to someone close to me (25%)
- No (65%)
- If you had to leave the U.S. due to job loss, where would you most likely go?
- Return to India (45%)
- Move to another country (26%)
- Not sure (29%)
- If you had to leave the U.S., what would be your biggest concern?
- Significant pay cut (25%)
- Lower quality of life (24%)
- Cultural or family adjustment (13%)
- Fewer jobs and limited opportunities in my field (10%)
- None, I’d be open to leaving (28%)
- If you could do it all over again, would you still choose to immigrate to the U.S. on a work visa?
- Yes (35%)
- Maybe (27%)
- No (38%)
A separate poll was posted on July 29, 2025, with over 1,900 users on Blind participating.
Another poll was conducted on August 6, 2025, with nearly 1,600 Blind users taking part, where they exchanged current trends and tips on navigating ever-changing immigration policies.