Thousands of Indian professionals on H-1B visas find themselves in a precarious situation, stranded at home as their US visa stamping appointments face massive delays of at least six months. The holdup is attributed to intensified social media vetting of all applicants, a process initiated by the US State Department on December 15, which is now consuming significantly more time.
Primary Goal: Do Not Lose Your H-1B Job
According to immigration attorney Emily Neumann, the absolute priority for affected individuals is to retain their current H-1B employment. She explains the severe financial repercussion of job loss in this scenario. If a person loses their job while abroad, any new US employer would need to file a fresh H-1B petition, incurring a fee of approximately $100,000, as the candidate would not be in the United States.
"Now, no company is ready to do that. You are pretty much stuck," Neumann stated, highlighting the near-impossibility of finding new sponsorship under these circumstances.
Limited Options: Emergency Appointments and Work-From-Home
With consulates in India deferring appointments en masse and instructing candidates not to contact them before their new dates, options are scarce. Neumann suggests that if a US employer cannot permit six months of remote work, candidates can request an emergency appointment. However, she cautions that the chances of securing one are slim.
The State Department has deliberately stalled and reduced daily interview slots to manage the extended time required for the enhanced social media screening of every applicant.
Experts View Vetting as an Excuse, Urge Canceling Travel
Another immigration lawyer, Rahul Reddy, offered a stark interpretation of the situation. He posited that the social media vetting is merely "an excuse to cut candidates off." Reddy explained that while the Trump administration would need Congressional approval to alter non-immigrant visa programs formally, it holds significant power at the border.
"The Trump administration is more powerful at the border, and when a visa holder is outside the country, it can stop anyone from coming in," Reddy said. His unequivocal advice to all visa holders currently in the US is to cancel any international travel plans immediately, stating that now is not a good time to travel.
The consensus among legal experts is clear: for H-1B professionals caught in this administrative slowdown, preserving their current job status is the most critical defense against potentially career-derailing complications and exorbitant costs.
