Indian-born technical doctor duo considers moving to Dubai: Without a green card, they cannot return home with H-1B
A couple of skilled doctors are considering moving from the United States to Dubai because of long wait times for green cards.
As the delay in H-1B visa stamping in India continues, social media platforms are abuzz with reports on how Indians are stuck in India or unable to travel to India even for family emergencies. After an Indian man shared the heartbreaking situation of being unable to travel to India to visit his mother before her death, a tech doctor couple shared how they were considering moving to Dubai. Their story was shared by immigration analyst Sam Peak, who did not name them and asked their permission before sharing their situation on social media.The man is a technician who has worked in the United States for more than ten years, and his wife is a top cardiologist at a top hospital on the East Coast. The technician said he has a national interest exemption, meaning his work is so important to the United States that he qualifies for a green card more quickly without any employer sponsorship — because he is an asset to the country, not just to any particular company.While the national interest waiver made him eligible for a green card more quickly, he was stuck in a long queue “because of the way the system was backed up.”“My wife is in a similar situation, and here’s the real problem. She’s an elite cardiologist at a top hospital on the East Coast. She’s published a ton of research and is a rock star in the field of heart health, but she hasn’t been able to fly home to see her dog family in over three years. The nightmare of trying to get a visa appointment to come back leaves us cold every time she thinks about leaving,” the techie wrote, adding how they believe in the American dream, and how his doctor wife believes in the oath of allegiance she must take in order to do her job.“But honestly, we’re just exhausted. It’s exhausting to be told you’re important but to be treated like a temporary thing. We are seriously considering moving to Dubai. It sucks to leave when you love the values here, but we can’t put our lives and our ability to care for our families on hold for another ten years,” the man wrote.
Why US H-1B holders cannot visit India
H-1B visa holders in the United States will have their passport stamped, which is required to enter the United States. The stamp is valid for approximately three years, corresponding to the validity period of their H-1B visa. For example, after three years, their visa was extended but the stamp still expired. New stamping can only be done at the consulate of the home country. Many H-1B visa holders remain in the United States with expired stamps because the stamp is only required to re-enter the United States and therefore they do not leave the country. They usually make an appointment at the consulate for re-stamping before visiting India. But since December 2025, there has been a crisis of stamping delays as all dates have been rescheduled, and it will now only open in 2027.
