5-year India Visa: American man praises PM Modi after securing visa

An American technologist’s post is going viral these days for all the right reasons. In October 2025, Klor Anthony Louis (aka “Tony Klor”), a U.S. citizen working in technology and blockchain/AI space, praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after receiving a five-year Indian visa. He praised the Indian PM for having a more open immigration approach. The post went viral on X (formerly Twitter) and positioned India’s visa plan as more welcoming than that of the United States.

In his post, he compared India with the former U.S. President Trump, and wrote:



“Trump says foreigners go kick rocks. Modi says ‘Welcome home, bhai.’”

He posted a picture of his visa which shows that the visa was issued on September 23, 2025, and is valid until September 22, 2030.

The post soon went viral and garnered online reactions. Several praised the move as evidence that India is serious about building itself into a global hub for innovation, particularly in AI and blockchain. Others saw the post as a direct jab at U.S. immigration policy.
Understanding this Indian visa

So, India’s e-Visa scheme allows citizens of eligible countries—including the U.S.—to apply online for travel visas in categories such as e-Tourist, e-Business, e-Medical and e-Conference, among others. In practice, the government has liberalized the scheme: e-Tourist and e-Business visas may be valid for up to one year with multiple entries, though each visit has capped duration limits.

Under the earlier rules, these e-Visas allowed stays up to 60 days; newer rules expanded stay limits per visit. For example, the government now permits continuous stay per visit of up to 180 days for U.S., U.K., Canada, and Japan nationals on e-Tourist visas, while for e-Business visas, stay per visit is capped at 180 days.
Five-year visa
However, a five-year visa is not your regular visa; it is not your traditional “paper visas” or long-term business visas. The Work-Related Visa FAQs issued by the MHA, Indian missions can issue Business (“B”) visas to foreign nationals with up to 10 years’ validity and multiple entries, particularly for U.S. citizens.

That suggests that the visa shown by Tony Klor might not be a standard e-Visa but one of those longer-term consular visas meant for business/travel. The U.S. Consulate in New York confirms the restoration of 5-year e-Visas and long-term paper tourist visas for U.S. citizens as of March 2022.

It’s also important to note that regardless of visa validity, Indian immigration rules typically limit aggregate stay in a given year on tourist or business visas. For example, the U.S. consulate states that if the stay on a business visa exceeds 180 days in a calendar year, the foreign national must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Office (FRO).

Tony Klor’s praising India publicly shows more than just an individual win. It is a symbolic moment in how India wants to present itself to the world. With fast-growing sectors like AI, blockchain, deep tech, and startups, India is competing globally for high-skilled talent. A visible example of long-term visa support helps strengthen its image as a destination that welcomes global talents. The viral post shows that India wants to rebrand itself as a global magnet for innovators.