Hundreds of highly skilled Indian professionals working in the United States on H-1B visas have found themselves stranded in India after American consulates suddenly cancelled their scheduled visa renewal appointments. According to a report in The Washington Post, the cancellations occurred between December 15 and 26, a period many visa holders choose due to the US holiday season.
Abrupt Cancellations Cause Widespread Disruption
The report, citing three immigration attorneys specializing in H-1B cases, states that potentially thousands of appointments were scrapped. Emails from the US State Department reviewed by the newspaper informed applicants that their interviews were being postponed. The reason cited was the implementation of the Trump administration's new social media screening policy, aimed at ensuring no applicant poses a threat to US national security or public safety.
The unexpected move has thrown lives into disarray. Many workers are now stuck in India on expired visas, facing immense anxiety about their jobs and futures in the United States. Emily Neumann, a partner at the Houston-based immigration firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC, confirmed that at least 100 of her clients are currently stranded. Immigration lawyers Veena Vijay Ananth in India and Charles Kuck in Atlanta are each handling more than a dozen similar cases.
A "Biggest Mess" With No Clear Resolution
Veena Vijay Ananth, with over two decades of experience in H-1B cases, described the situation as "the biggest mess we have seen." She expressed uncertainty about whether there is a concrete plan to resolve the backlog and assist the affected individuals.
A spokesperson for the US State Department explained the shift in priority, stating that while the emphasis in the past was on processing speed, embassies and consulates worldwide, including in India, are now "prioritising thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else." The exact number of applicants impacted by these delays is not immediately known, but the issue also affects several other categories of visa applicants due to the new social media scrutiny norms.
What This Means for Indian H-1B Professionals
The H-1B visa program allows US companies to employ foreign workers with specialized skills for an initial three-year period, extendable for another three years. Indians account for an estimated 71% of approved H-1B applications, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This latest development is part of the Trump administration's broader agenda to restrict immigration and tighten visa regulations.
The US embassy in India has issued a clear advisory, urging visa applicants not to arrive at consular offices on their previously scheduled dates. It stated that arriving on the old date will result in denied admittance and asked applicants to wait for their new appointment dates as communicated via email.
The situation leaves a significant number of Indian tech professionals and other skilled workers in a state of limbo, uncertain about when they can return to their jobs and lives in America, and highlights the increasing challenges within the US immigration system.
