Chandigarh: A sweeping lockdown is in place across India to slow the spread of COVID-19, which has affected the economy of the country along with the people.
While everyone is hoping that nationwide lockdown might come to an end on May 3 and the economy will come back on track within a couple of months, the hard-hit immigration industry is hoping for the same.
"The customers are constantly calling us and asking us that when will the lockdown come to an end and after how long will they be able to go abroad," said immigration expert Kamalpreet Khaira in conversation with ETV Bharat.
The people, who are studying abroad on a student visa are hard-hit by COVID-19 as they are not able to meet their expenses. Although they are having online classes, but due to shutdown they are unable to earn money for survival, he added.
Recently, US President Donald Trump executive order to temporarily halt the issuance of green cards aims to "turn off the faucet" of new immigrant labour and is the beginning of a broader strategy to reduce the flow of foreigners into the US.
A green card gives the right to live and work legally in the US as well as the opportunity to become a citizen of the country.
"If someone has an H-1B visa, he will have 60 days to find a new job or else he is sent back to India, after the said duration. Appeal to increase the period of 60 days to 6 months has not been approved yet," he added.
"Trump has taken the decision to divert attention from the election to be held in November. It will make a big difference to Indians living in the US, especially to Indian IT companies whose large part of revenue comes from the US. The effect of the crisis will be visible after a year," he concluded.
Also read: Court issues notice to the Centre for sending back the body of Indian youth who died abroad
