Indian H-1B visa holders stranded in India due to rescheduled US visa appointments

The Hindu
The Hindu
2w ago
Indian H-1B visa holders face uncertainty as appointment cancellations disrupt work permit renewals during the US holiday period.
Indian H-1B visa holders stranded in India due to rescheduled US visa appointments
A What happened
Indian H-1B visa holders returning to India for work permit renewals had their appointments canceled between December 15 and 26, coinciding with the US holiday season. This is due to an expanded US social media vetting policy now covering H-1B and H-4 applicants. The cancellations leave many skilled workers stranded and raise concerns about company willingness to wait for their return. This disrupts the visa renewal process for a group that makes up 71% of visa holders from India.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Expanded Social Media Vetting: The US State Department now reviews social media accounts of all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants.

  • 2

    Appointment Cancellations: Hundreds of Indian H-1B visa holders had consular appointments canceled, coinciding with the US holiday season.

  • 3

    Employer Concerns: Delays are causing worries about how long companies will wait for affected employees to renew visas.

Takeaways

The new vetting rules and appointment cancellations are causing significant visa renewal delays for Indian H-1B workers, impacting both the individuals and their US employers.

Topics

World & Politics Policy & Regulation International Affairs Migration

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