New York, USA: Since Donald Trump began his second term as President of the United States, the Indian immigrant community—particularly those on temporary visas like the H1-B—has been on edge. With Trump’s reputation for enforcing strict immigration policies, uncertainty surrounds potential changes to visa regulations.

A recent incident has brought this concern to the forefront. Indian parents arriving at Newark Airport on B-1/B-2 visas were refused entry due to a failure to present return flight tickets booked in advance.

The parents, who had come to visit their children and planned to stay for five months, were informed by the immigration officer that a return ticket is now mandatory under the new 2025 rules. Despite their pleas, they were sent back to India directly from the airport.

This situation is unusual, as no official announcement has been made regarding the requirement for return tickets. The immigration officer explained that, according to the 2025 regulations, all visitors must have a return flight scheduled before entering the U.S.

While the rule was communicated at the port of entry, there was no prior warning or clarification about this change, leaving many travelers unaware of the new requirement

With Trump back in office, Indian visitors must be more diligent than ever, ensuring their travel documents are complete and up-to-date to avoid such surprises when entering the U.S.