Lufthansa’s strict rules are becoming a headache for Indian techies in the US. Traveling to India is a must for these people who want to renew their H-1B visas, but the German airline has refused to be of any help.
The German Airline denied boarding to many Indian H-1B holders at US airports. A person sharing their experience on social media wrote, “My H1B stamping was expired (July 2022). I was going to India to get a new stamp based on the latest I-797. They did NOT let me board.”
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They further said they had to fly to Newark and take a direct Air India flight to Delhi. This is because Lufthansa, or any other flights traveling through Germany don’t accept I-797A as proof of valid status.
More travelers have shared horror stories of being turned away at the airport and scrambling for last-minute alternatives. Others who applied for a Schengen transit visa say Lufthansa didn’t even check it, making the process even more confusing.
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This is yet another blow for Indian techies, already struggling with US visa delays and work uncertainties. If you’re heading to India for H-1B stamping, the best option would be to avoid European layovers.
Lufthansa seems to be enforcing even stricter rules, refusing passengers without a stamped visa in their passport. It seems only a direct flight could save you from such last-minute chaos at the airport.
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