A woman in the US, holding an H-1B visa, reported that her visa was revoked during the preclearance process in Abu Dhabi while she was travelling back from India earlier this year. This has led to an online debate about the dangers of travelling that visa holders face.
Stopped during preclearance questioning
In a Reddit post, she said that she had travelled to India in November to celebrate her daughter's first birthday and was scheduled to return to the US with her husband in January. Their visa stamping process had gone smoothly since they had managed to get appointments before mid-December, 2025, before the news of disruptions in US visa processing, as reported by NDTV.
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However, her experience changed during immigration checks at the Abu Dhabi preclearance facility. While her husband cleared the process without issues, she was questioned about the duration of her stay in India and whether she had continued working during that period.
According to her account, she stayed in India for nearly two months and described the trip as a combination of vacation and limited work. Although she was officially on paid time off, she admitted to partially working while abroad.
Entrepreneur explains legal authority
US-based entrepreneur James Blunt commented on the situation, calling it a "221(i) visa cancellation at preclearance". He explained that officers from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have wide discretionary powers at ports of entry.
"Is it ridiculous? YES. From a legal authority standpoint, however, CBP absolutely has the power to do this. Given the current enforcement posture, WHY are people still traveling when even pro-immigration advocates are warning against it? Tell a friend to stop traveling unless it's an emergency; there are beautiful places to visit in the US, and we have great Indian food. Come on folks, it's not that difficult," he commented.
Assuming this H-1B visa cancellation is a real Reddit post:
— James Blunt (@JBlunt1018) February 24, 2026
This looks like a 221(i) visa cancellation at preclearance.
CBP has EXTREMELY BROAD discretion at ports of entry (including Abu Dhabi preclearance). They do not have to prove a violation the way USCIS does during pic.twitter.com/Hd76JvynQP
Secondary inspection and visa cancellation
The woman said she was then taken for secondary inspection, where officers asked her to provide documents proving that remote work from India was permitted under her Labor Condition Application (LCA). She stated that no such provision existed in her paperwork.
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Officials allegedly told her that receiving a salary from a US employer while working from India amounted to effectively "overstaying" and violated regulations. Her visa was stamped "Cancelled and Withdrawn", and she was informed that she would need to apply again for a new visa.
She added that she has been unable to secure a fresh appointment due to a lack of available slots and is currently stranded. According to her post, her company's immigration attorney advised that remote work from India is not unlawful.
