'Welcome Home Bhai': US techie flaunts 5-year India visa, praises Modi, mocks Trump

When Tony Klor, an American blockchain and AI enthusiast based in Bengaluru, received his new Indian visa, he didn’t just quietly slip it into his passport. Instead, he posted a photo online and proudly announced: “It’s official! India is opening its doors to foreign blockchain & AI builders. I’ve just been granted a girthy 5-year India visa.”

The timing of his post and its cheeky undertone caught immediate attention. Klor, who has been living and working in India’s thriving tech ecosystem, followed it up with a pointed comparison between two world leaders: “Trump says foreigners go kick rocks. Modi says welcome home bhai.”

The remark went viral, resonating with netizens who saw it as both a celebration of India’s global outreach and a subtle jab at U.S. immigration policies under Donald Trump. Social media platforms filled with comments such as “Welcome home!” and “First time seeing an Indian visa flex.”

Klor’s document is a B-1 business visa, valid from September 2025 to September 2030, with each stay limited to 180 days. Unlike an employment visa, the B-1 is designed for short-term activities such as business meetings, conferences, contract negotiations, or exploring investment opportunities. It does not permit direct employment in India, but its long validity and multiple-entry feature make it attractive for entrepreneurs and consultants who travel frequently.

For India, granting long-duration business visas is part of a larger strategy: positioning itself as a global hub for AI, blockchain, and start-up innovation.

The US H-1B visa stands in stark contrast. It is a work visa that allows foreign nationals to be employed by American companies in specialized fields such as technology, engineering, and medicine. Each H-1B is typically valid for three years (extendable to six) and is tied to a specific employer. The visa is also capped—currently at 85,000 new slots per year—making it highly competitive.

While the H-1B provides a clear path to employment and even permanent residency, critics argue that it is restrictive, with long backlogs and uncertain approval odds. Under former President Donald Trump, additional scrutiny and higher fees were introduced, leading to perceptions of hostility toward foreign workers.

India’s B-1 visa, by contrast, does not authorize salaried work, but its five-year span and ease of renewal make it far more flexible for business travel and cross-border collaboration. Symbolically, it sends a message that India wants to welcome innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs, even if they are not formal employees.

For Klor, the difference was clear: America’s system can feel exclusionary, while India’s approach—even with the limitations of a B-1—felt like an open door. His post resonated because it captured a broader truth: as global talent looks for new hubs of opportunity, visa policies play an outsized role in where the next generation of entrepreneurs chooses to plant roots.