For Indian immigrant families — and therefore for many Telugu-speaking professional families in the United States — the consequence is a striking disconnect: a child can be raised and educated in America for years while a parent waits in the employment-based green-card system, yet still reach adulthood without an independent right to remain permanently.

The Department of Homeland Security has advanced a proposed regulation that would eliminate the 60-day grace period available to certain foreign workers, including H-1B professionals, after their employment ends, a potentially significant change for thousands of Indian workers in the United States.

The controversy began after CyberGreen09 shared a video of Gollapudi performing Kuchipudi and alleged that she had remained an F-1 student since 2014 while undertaking unauthorized work. The account offered the video and information about her academic background as purported support for the claim.

Padilla’s office estimates that more than 8 million people — more than 80 lakh — could gain a potential pathway to permanent residency under the change. The senator’s office specifically lists Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, children of long-term visa holders, essential workers and highly skilled workers such as H-1B visa holders among people who could benefit if they individually qualify.