The United States Department of State has confirmed massive delays in securing visa appointments at its embassies and consulates globally, with wait times ballooning to as long as a year. This crisis, severely impacting applicants in India, is a direct result of intensified security vetting procedures that have become the top priority for consular officials.
New Screening Process Creates Global Backlog
In an official communication, a State Department spokesperson told Business Insider that consular posts are now focusing on “prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else,” a significant shift from earlier goals of minimizing wait times. The core of the bottleneck is a new mandate for “online presence reviews.” This process, initiated under the Trump administration, requires officials to scrutinize the social media histories of applicants across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to assess potential national security risks.
This enhanced screening affects a wide range of visa categories, including H-1B specialty occupation workers, their dependents, students, and exchange visitors. The immigration law firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC reported that appointments have been postponed in several countries, including Ireland and Vietnam. Notably, hundreds of Indian professionals were left in limbo after their scheduled visa renewal appointments in December were cancelled without warning.
Tech Giants Google and Apple Advise Employees Against Travel
The extensive delays have prompted major technology corporations to take action. Both Google and Apple have issued internal travel advisories to employees holding H-1B visas and their families. The companies, through their immigration law firms, warned staff about the “risk of an extended stay” outside the United States. The memos explicitly advised visa holders who need a new visa stamp for re-entry to avoid any international travel, as last-minute cancellations and rescheduling could strand them abroad for months.
The H-1B program is crucial for the U.S. tech industry, with an annual cap of 85,000 new visas. Data from the Department of Labor and USCIS reveals that for fiscal year 2024, Google applied for 5,537 H-1B visas, while Apple sought 3,880. Indian nationals receive over 70% of all H-1B visas issued, making them disproportionately vulnerable to these processing delays.
Uncertain Timelines and Cautious Advice from Lawyers
While the State Department states that applicants can request expedited appointments on a case-by-case basis and slots may shift as resources allow, the reality for many is a state of uncertainty. Immigration attorney Jason Finkelman advised that foreign nationals with a currently valid visa stamp in their passport can generally re-enter the U.S. However, he strongly recommended clients avoid any non-essential travel.
“If travel isn’t essential right now, better to stay put,” Finkelman cautioned. He highlighted the precarious situation for H-1B workers whose consular appointments are cancelled, leaving them with no clear timeline for returning to their jobs and lives in the United States. The situation underscores a growing challenge for global talent mobility and the companies that depend on it.
