...but panic, chaos spell airport rush

Panic, confusion, and anger reigned as workers on HIB visas from India and China were forced to abandon travel plans and rush back to the US after President Trump imposed new visa fees.

- Agencies

The White House clarification that the order applied only to new applicants and not holders of existing visas or those seeking renewals came late for some.

By that time tech companies and banks had sent urgent memos to employees, advising them to return before a deadline of 12.01 am US Eastern Time Sunday, and telling them not to leave the country.

Fearing they would not be allowed back once the new rule took effect, several Indians at San Francisco airport said they cut short vacations.

"It is a situation where we had to choose between family and staying here," said an engineer at a large tech company whose wife had been on an Emirates flight from San Francisco to Dubai that was scheduled to depart at 5.05 pm local time on Friday.

The flight was delayed by more than three hours after several Indian passengers who received news of the order or memos from their employers demanded to deplane, said the person. At least five passengers were eventually allowed off, said the engineer.

A video of the incident was circulating on social media, showing a few people leaving the plane.

The engineer's wife, also a HIB visa holder, chose to head to India to care for her sick mother. "It's quite tragic. We have built a life here," he said.