H-1B Visa Delays Strand Indian Workers in India

Hundreds of Indian professionals holding H-1B work visas are stranded in India after U.S. consular offices canceled or postponed their renewal appointments scheduled between December 15 and 26, 2025, leaving them unable to return to their jobs in the United States.

The disruptions stem from a new policy by the U.S. Department of State that expands social media and online presence reviews to all H-1B specialty occupation workers and their H-4 dependents, effective December 15. Previously, such checks applied only to student and exchange visitor categories, including F, M, and J visas. The U.S. Embassy in India announced the change on December 10, stating it aims to ensure applicants pose no threat to U.S. national security or public safety. Emails sent to applicants cited the rollout of this vetting process under the Trump administration as the reason for the delays, with many interviews rescheduled for dates as early as March or as late as June 2026.

Immigration lawyers reported handling numerous cases of affected workers. Emily Neumann, a partner at the Houston-based firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC, said at least 100 of her clients are stuck in India. Veena Vijay Ananth, an...