'No option but to come back to India': H-1B visa holders share their fears and hopes ahead of US election

“别无选择，只能回到印度”：H-1B签证持有者在美国大选前讲述他们的担忧和希望

When Pramod (last name concealed on request), 40, landed in India with his family on February 17, little did he know that a short visit to his home country would translate into a harrowing eight month-long stay. His return to his home in Michigan and a future in the US now depends on the outcome of the November 3 polls.

当40岁的普拉莫德和家人于2月17日抵达印度时，他并不知道自己在印度的短暂停留会成为八个月的痛苦停留。他能否回到密歇根州的家中，以及继续在美国生活，现在都取决于11月3日的大选结果。

Pramod, like hundreds of H-1B visa holders affected by President Donald Trump's flip-flops on the long-term work visa, is kee a close eye on the ongoing American presidential elections.

和成百上千的H-1B签证持有者一样，普拉莫德也在密切关注着正在进行的美国总统选举。这些人受到特朗普总统在长期工作签证问题上的朝令夕改的影响。

"These changes are just a political move," Pramod said, "But it's a daily thing now. It's worrisome. I don't want to go to another country. Coming back to India is my only option. I don't know what I will do here, but I will have to build my life from scratch."

普拉莫德说：“这些变化只是一种政治举动。但现在已经成了日常，令人担忧。我不想去另一个国家。回到印度是我唯一的选择。我不知道我以后能在这里做什么，我将不得不从头开始。”

Trump signed an Executive Order on June 22, barring the entry of H-1B, L-1 and J1 visa holders till the end of the year. The proclamation was later suspended by a US district court in early October.

特朗普在6月22日签署了一项行政命令，正式暂停H-1B、L-1和J1签证持有者入境美国，直至今年年底。该公告后来在10月初被美国地方法院暂停。

The 40-year-old, who has spent nearly 13 years in the US, said he would want to see Biden as the next US president.

现年40岁、已在美国生活了近13年的普拉莫德表示，他希望拜登成为下一任美国总统。

"Biden is good. But I don't want to keep my hopes up," he said.

”拜登不错。但我不想抱太大希望，”他说道。

Things are no different for those trapped on the US soil. 31-year-old Jeya Ganesh said the fear among visa holders is palpable and the policy changes have become a topic of discussion at every social gathering.

对于那些被困在美国的人来说，情况也没有什么不同。31岁的加内什说，签证持有者的恐惧显而易见，政策变化已经成为每一次社交聚会的讨论话题。

"We are always under threat because of the current administration's anti-immigration agenda. Trump is using the pandemic to achieve his long-standing goal to limit immigration," he said.

他说：“由于现任政府的反移民政策，我们一直面临威胁。特朗普正在利用疫情来实现他限制移民的长期目标。”

Many H-1B visa holders, according to Jeya Ganesh, are wishing for a Biden win.

加内什说，很多H-1B签证持有者都希望拜登能赢。

"Biden would be the preferred choice for skilled workers. He established clearly that he would resolve the hurdles for tech workers," he said.

他说：“拜登将是技术工人的首选。他明确表示，他将为技术工人解决这些障碍。”

Throughout his 4-year term, Trump has vowed to curb both legal and illegal immigration to the US. His opponent, on the other side, has promised to be less harsh with the foreign workers. At a fundraising event in September, Biden had said he was ready to revoke the H-1B ban as soon as he was elected.

在特朗普的4年任期内，他誓言要遏制进入美国的合法和非法移民。另一方面，他的对手拜登承诺对外国工人不那么严厉。在9月的一次筹款活动上，拜登曾表示，一旦当选，他就准备废除H-1B禁令。

印度经济时报读者的评论： 译者：Jessica.Wu

varadharajan balasubramanian

whoever becomes a President in November in US after will not have mercy on immigrants. More Indians try to escape the harsh living conditions in India but US will not be able to accommodate all of them. The sooner the Indians realize this the better.

无论谁在11月当选美国总统，都不会宽恕移民。由于恶劣的生活条件，越来越多的印度人试图逃离自己国家，但美国容不下所有印度人。印度人越早意识到这一点越好。

Dm Bhanap

It is unfair to ask Indians to leave the US after their graduation from American Universities. They spent millions to go there for higher education and contributed substantially to the US economy. They, therefore, need to receive further work experience in the US for at least 5-6 years to become fully ready to serve in the country they belong to and contribute to its economy. Every country has a right to restrict foreigners entry at any time but those who are already in the US should not be asked to suffer uncertainties of the US visa policies and asked to leave US.

要求从美国大学毕业后的印度人离开美国是不公平的。他们花了数百万美元去那里接受高等教育，对美国经济做出了巨大贡献。因此，至少要让他们在美国获得至少5-6年的工作经验，积累充分的经验，以为本国经济做出贡献。每个国家都有权在任何时候限制外国人入境，但对于已经在美国境内的，不能因为美国签证政策的不确定性而要求他们离开。

sm

India. Our home land. What to worry? You dont want to stay with your family, friends, our culture? Just to be selfish to stay away and have your own life? Stay home, India needs educated people to make good society again by fighting against corruption, evil acts against females which are major issues for us now. If everyone leaves country India will be taken over by another country again.

印度是我们的祖国。你们担心什么? 难道你们不想和你的家人、朋友待在一起吗?

只想离开，过自己的生活?

待在本国吧，印度需要受过教育的人，打击腐败和针对女性的犯罪行为，重建一个美好的社会，这是我们现在面临的主要问题。

如果每个人都离开这个国家，印度将再次被另一个国家接管。

Amrit

We don't have place for these arrogant indian Americans in our country.. go somewhere else...

我们国家没地儿容纳这些傲慢的印度裔美国人。让他们去别的地方…

H Two Z

Come back to India.

回印度吧。

Sundar Narayanan

There is no clarity on why the people in the article are worried. Logic is simple. More application for the H1B and with same quota, obviously rejection will be more.

文章中的人为什么会担心，这一点并没说清楚。逻辑很简单。H1B的配额不变，申请却越来越多，被拒签的明显也会更多。

Kaukab Nadeem

India is progressing under Mr. Modi.

NRIs especially USNRIs should come back to India before Americans and Europeans start forming queues to come to live and work in India. This gentleman is lucky to be back in India. He should motivate fellow BRIs to grab this opportunity.

在莫迪的领导下，印度正在进步。

印度人赶快回国吧，别等到美国人和欧洲人排起长队申请签证到印度生活和工作，到时候就迟了。这位先生很幸运能回到印度。他应该鼓励印度裔抓住这个机会。

Venkat Alladi

You must be kidding

你开玩笑呢

Prince India

Come back to India and start CHAI-PAKODA business

回印度卖帕可拉（炸蔬菜丸子）吧

Nuz Reade

Just like India wants to protect its citizens from Bangladesi migrants so does USA.

就像印度想保护本国公民的利益不受孟加拉国移民的伤害一样，美国也想保护本国公民的利益不受他国移民的伤害

Dattaram Phutane

This reporter is anti biased against trump

作者对特朗普持有偏见

Sanujit Roy

How many will come back?

有多少人会回来？

Shri

Very nice. Come back, Sweeties. Go to Africa & Central Asia & S America. No worries.

很好，回来吧，或者去非洲、中亚和南美吧。不用担心。

Sagar

U have to feel proud that u r back to home country.

你们应该为回到自己的祖国而感到自豪。