H1B Visa Canceled In Abu Dhabi: What's Happening?

The United States, H1B visa is one of the most prestigious and sorted visas in the globe. It comes with a work permit in the United States, which makes it a dearly prospect for the Indian community.

However, a social media post about an H1B visa cancellation at Abu Dhabi airport is going viral and creating concern among H1B holders. It is not clear whether the post is fully verified, but the details shared in the screenshots have caught attention.

According to the post, a woman working on an H1B visa traveled to India in November. She and her husband completed their visa stamping on December 12. In January, while returning to the United States, they went through U.S. preclearance at Abu Dhabi airport.

During questioning, she said that she stayed in India for around two months and used a mix of paid time off and some remote work. After this statement, she was sent for secondary inspection.

Officers reportedly told her that working from India was not allowed because it was not mentioned in her LCA. They also said that getting paid while staying in India was against U.S. law. Her visa was then stamped “Cancelled and Withdrawn.”

However, her company’s immigration attorney reportedly said there is no such specific rule and advised her to reapply for visa stamping. The problem is that currently there are no visa appointment slots available.

This incident, whether fully confirmed or not, is a reminder that H1B holders must be very careful. Immigration rules can be interpreted strictly at ports of entry. Not everyone may be aware of all regulations, and officers have wide discretion. H1B employees should always consult their company’s immigration team before traveling or working remotely from abroad.