An Indian-origin man tragically passed away in the United States after collapsing while playing cricket on December 13, according to a fundraising campaign online. Described as a “beloved friend and teammate,” Nitin Murkute, an amateur athlete, was just 41 years old.
A GoFundMe link further paid tribute to him, calling him a “passionate player, a devoted husband, and a proud father.” He is survived by his wife Rashmi, son Arnav (14) and daughter Aarna (9). The unprecedented tragedy struck the Murkute family shortly after Nitin fulfilled his dream of buying a home for his family. However, the short-lived joy has now rung in an hour of grief, as challenges emerge on the horizon.
Fundraiser for Indian-origin cricket lover Nitin Murkute’s family in US
According to New India Abroad’s report, the tragic incident unfolded in North Carolina while Nitin Murkute was playing a league match. He is said to have been an active player associated with the Triangle Cricket League (TCL) and the Morrisville Raptors.
The GoFundMe launched by Murkute’s teammates, friends and TCL Management after his death had raised $216,779, achieving 87% of its $250,000-mark target at the time of writing. In a heartbreaking message, the concerned parties urged people to come together as a community and support his family in the hour of need.
“Every donation, no matter the size, will make a difference in helping Rashmi and the kids navigate this heartbreaking time,” the fundraiser stated. “If you are unable to contribute financially, please consider sharing this campaign so we can reach more people who can help.”
They further highlighted that the donations made through the GoFundMe link would help the family cover funeral and memorial expenses, provide immediate financial relief to Murkute’s wife and children, help secure his kids’ education and future, and the ease the burden of mortgage and living costs.
Indian-origin H-4 visa holder faced with financial strain after husband’s death
The fundraiser even goes on to disclose that Murkute’s wife, Rashmi, has been living in the US on an H-4 visa as a non-working individual. This has now forced her family to face “overwhelming emotional and financial challenges,” especially with a mortgage that needs to be taken care of. (See fundraiser: http://www.gofundme.com/f/NitinMurkute)
The H-4 is a non-immigrant visa issued to dependent spouses and children (under the age of 21) of certain work visa holders, including H-1B holders. This temporary legal classification allows the family members of some work visa holders to join them in the US.
Since the petitioners of this visa type are mostly dependent on the primary worker maintaining a valid immigration status, they are referred to as “H-4 dependents,” as per the American Immigration Council. And so, their period of stay in the country cannot exceed that of the primary worker.
Prior to 2015, H-4 holders were not even authorised to work in America. But the Department of Homeland Security under the Obama administration introduced a new rule in 2015, allowing certain H-4 dependents to apply for an employment Authorisation Document (EAD).
H-4 dependents are primarily identified in correlation with the following non-immigrant visa categories:
- ‘Specialty occupation’ H-1B workers
- Temporary or seasonal agricultural workers H-2A
- Temporary non-agricultural workers H-2B
- Nonimmigrant trainees, other than medical or academic – H-3
Since Rashmi is an H-4 recipient, it means that Nitin Murkute must have held one of the four aforementioned visa classifications.
As per leading Texas-based immigration law firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC, the death of the primary applicant leaves their surviving family members with no option but to notify the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the death.
The H-4 spouse would also need to change their status to another visa category and their child would need to become a dependent of the surviving spouse’s status to maintain a safe stay in the country. However, this can only be possible if the death of the primary applicant happened while the spouse was still residing in the US.
If the spouse ends up staying in the US past the I-94 expiration, they may be flagged for “unlawful presence,” and face deportation or even a ban from the country. However, it is simply better to wrap up affairs in the US following such a tragedy, especially with the current political scenario fuelled by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Best bet is to get in touch with an immigration attorney at the earlier to put all your doubts to rest and navigate the right path ahead.