India, Sept. 21 -- With US President Donald Trump announcing sweeping changes to the H-1B visa programme on Friday, many Indian professionals visiting India scrambled to book last-minute flights back to the US before the visa hike order takes effect on Sunday, causing airfares to skyrocket-some by over 200%.

Most were left confused by the scope of the Trump administration's new order hiking H-1B visa application fees, due to discrepancies between statements made by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday and the text of Trump's executive order released on the same day. H-1B visa holders were also unsure if the $100,000 payment applied to renewal petitions, which are made to extend the visa for an additional three years.

Airlines and...