Thousands of Indian professionals on H-1B visas find themselves in a precarious situation, stranded outside the United States due to massive appointment delays at US consulates. The root cause is an intensified social media vetting process that began on December 15, which has slowed down interviews drastically, pushing back visa stamping appointments by at least six months.
The Primary Goal: Protect Your Current Job
Immigration attorney Emily Neumann has issued a critical piece of advice for affected individuals: your number one priority must be to retain your current H-1B employment. The consulates have cancelled existing appointments and informed candidates they will be notified of new dates, asking them not to contact the offices beforehand.
Neumann explains the severe financial domino effect of job loss. "If you do ultimately lose the job, maybe you will find a new job later in June, July, then that company has to file the H-1B petition with a $100,000 visa fee as you are not in the US. Now, no company is ready to do that. You are pretty much stuck," she stated. This staggering cost makes it highly unlikely for a new employer to sponsor someone who is outside the country.
Limited Options and a Stark Warning
For those whose US employers may not permit a six-month work-from-home arrangement from India, one theoretical option is to request an emergency appointment. However, Neumann cautions that the chances of securing one are extremely slim.
Another immigration lawyer, Rahul Reddy, offers a broader political analysis of the situation. He suggests that the social media vetting is merely "an excuse to cut candidates off." Reddy points out that while the Trump administration would need Congressional approval to make major changes to non-immigrant visa programs, it holds significant power at the border. "When a visa holder is outside the country, it can stop anyone from coming in," he said.
Critical Advice for Visa Holders
Based on the current climate, Reddy has issued a firm recommendation for all visa holders currently in the United States: cancel any international travel plans immediately. He emphasizes that now is not a good time to leave, as re-entry is fraught with uncertainty and potentially lengthy delays.
The US State Department has officially stalled visa appointments to reduce daily interview volumes, a direct result of the time-consuming new vetting protocols. This administrative slowdown has created a perfect storm, leaving highly skilled professionals in limbo and forcing them to make difficult career and personal decisions with significant financial implications.
