US–Gujarat NRI Travel Drops Sharply Amid Visa Fears

Ahmedabad | Gujarat –— For the first time in many years, Gujarat is witnessing a sharp drop in NRI arrivals from the United States during what is traditionally considered the peak NRI travel season. Airline officials estimate that passenger traffic from the US to Gujarat has declined by nearly 30 to 40 percent, triggered by a combination of visa uncertainties, fewer large-scale events, and cautious travel decisions by overseas Indians.

Typically, the December-to-March period sees packed flights from the US to Ahmedabad via major transit hubs such as Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Mumbai and Delhi. However, this year, the slowdown began as early as November. Instead of the usual 1,200 to 1,500 passengers arriving daily, only 800 to 1,000 passengers are now reaching Ahmedabad across 41 connecting domestic and international flights.

A senior official from an international airline described the situation as unprecedented.“Against an aircraft capacity of 256 seats, only 30 to 50 passengers from America are booked on several flights. Even on 180-seat aircraft like Air India, some days see just 70 to 80 passengers from the US, while the remaining seats are filled by domestic or other international travelers,” the official said.

Industry insiders attribute the drop largely to uncertainty surrounding US visa and immigration policies, particularly following frequent changes announced by former President Donald Trump. Students, H-1B and L-1 visa holders, F-1 students, OPT candidates, temporary green card holders and even long-term residents are increasingly avoiding travel to India, fearing delays or denial of re-entry into the US.

Many NRIs say they have postponed or cancelled family travel despite personal reasons.

“I have been living in America for years and my parents are green card holders. Every year, as the temperature drops below zero, I send them to India. But this time, I didn’t want to take any risk,” said Rajendra Patel, a resident of Chicago.

The ripple effect is also being felt in wedding-related travel, traditionally a major driver of NRI footfall.

“My daughter is studying in America on a student visa. We had planned a grand wedding in India, but due to the visa situation, we cancelled everything,” said Kushalbhai Patel from Ahmedabad.

Adding to the decline is the absence of large-scale religious or international events in Gujarat this season, such as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which usually draw thousands of overseas Gujaratis. Wedding dates, too, have been completed earlier than usual, further reducing travel demand.

Interestingly, while US-bound flights struggle to fill seats, airlines report strong demand for Australia-bound travel. With January to March being peak summer in Australia, economy-class seats from Ahmedabad are seeing healthy bookings due to family visits and honeymoon travel.