Usa Visa Rules: Donald Trump’s new visa restrictions force Telugu NRIs to find match in US | Vijayawada News

VIJAYAWADA: Atluri Kishore and Subhashini, a couple from Vizag, had grand plans for their son’s wedding, who went to the USA for his masters and secured a job there. Recently, they found a ‘perfect match’ for him – a woman from Jaggaiahpet in NTR district, who is also in the USA on an H-1B visa.As per Telugu tradition, they would have got married at the bride’s home in Jaggaiahpet. But now, instead of the bride and bridegroom coming to India to tie the knot, their parents have boarded a flight to the US to perform the wedding, thanks to the new visa regulations brought in by the Donald Trump administration.This is not an isolated case. In fact, a growing trend of parents going to the US for their children’s wedding is emerging in both Telugu states – mainly due to the new restrictions on H-1B visas and non-availability of visa slots till 2027.

Those in the US on an H-1B visa, who want to get married in their homeland, have to take a huge risk with visa stamping. Now, it is an obvious choice for them to get married in the US in the presence of friends and parents.Visa rules push Telugu families to US weddings We had started to plan our son’s wedding soon after he completed his masters degree. As he is our only son, we wanted to get him married in a traditional way by inviting all our relatives from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Now, we do not have an option but to do it in the US with a limited guest list. We cannot risk the career prospects of our kids for a grand wedding event,” says Kishore.Same is the case with the family of Neelima Gottipati from Hyderabad, who are going to US for their only daughter’s wedding in April. “Having to conduct the wedding in the US in the presence of very few family members is disappointing. We are a large family, and many of our relatives are disappointed that they cannot attend the wedding. We plan to live stream the wedding for all our relatives in India,” says Neelima.The Trump administration’s new visa rules are changing the way weddings are being fixed, planned and preformed. Those living in the US are now looking for a partner there itself. Interestingly, this has opened new opportunities for people in the US, especially for photographers, cooks, and purohits. “Photography hobbyists are now finding many opportunities, with some earning more than their salary from part-time photography. Same is the case with cooks and purohits,” says G Sai Sharath, who lives in Dallas.