A stringent new policy of social media screening for US visa applicants, implemented by the Trump administration from December 15, has left a significant number of Indian professionals stranded in India with no clear path to return to their jobs in the United States. This has forced American companies to urgently reconfigure travel plans and explore remote working options for affected employees facing prolonged and uncertain delays in visa stamping.
Visa Interviews Pushed to 2026, Forcing Immediate Returns
The immediate fallout of the enhanced scrutiny is a massive deferral of visa interview appointments at US consulates in India. According to a report in the Economic Times, available dates have now been pushed to a window between March and June of 2025, creating a backlog of several months. In an extreme case cited by an immigration attorney, one Indian H-1B holder saw his appointment rescheduled abruptly to June 2026. This prompted his employer to advise an immediate return to the US just two days after he had arrived in India, despite his visa stamp being valid until December 2025.
Immigration experts explain that while H-1B holders can legally reside and work in the US with an expired passport stamp if they have a valid I-94 record, leaving the country necessitates fresh stamping for re-entry. Many Indian professionals traditionally schedule these renewals during December holidays, a plan now completely upended.
Corporate Crisis: Remote Work and Urgent Travel Advisories
The delays are triggering a corporate crisis, directly impacting staffing, project deadlines, and client obligations, particularly in the technology sector. US employers are actively pursuing two main strategies to manage the disruption.
First, companies are approaching consultants to secure earlier interview slots where possible. Second, many are permitting stranded employees to work remotely from India until their visa process is complete. Simultaneously, firms are issuing urgent advisories. Sukanya Raman, Country Head at Davies & Associates, stated that employers are urging employees to re-enter the US before their current visas lapse. "Others whose visas have already expired are unfortunately stranded abroad," she added.
Rajneesh Pathak, founder of Global North, confirmed that several companies have sought his firm's assistance in managing employees stuck in India. The consensus advice for Indian professionals currently in the US is now to avoid travel to India altogether.
Wider Scrutiny and Shift Towards Investor Visas
The challenges extend beyond consular delays. Immigration experts report tougher checks at US ports of entry, with additional questioning becoming more common for:
- Indian students on F-1 visas, especially first-time travellers and STEM enrollees.
- Professionals on H-1B and L-1 visas.
- Frequent visitors on B-1/B-2 visas.
Prachi Shah, who runs a US law firm, clarified to ET that most issues arise not from wrongdoing but from "careless, inconsistent, or misunderstood online activity."
The growing uncertainty around the H-1B programme is driving a noticeable surge in interest for the EB-5 investor visa as an alternative pathway. The human cost, however, remains high. "There is significant stress for H-1B visa holders as careers are placed on hold, families are separated, and financial planning is disrupted," emphasized Sukanya Raman.
