A sudden shift in US immigration processing has left thousands of Indian tech professionals in limbo. Pre-planned H-1B visa the talks, originally set for late December, have been abruptly pushed back — in some cases by several months — as the Trump administration implements strict new standards for background and social media checks.
According to reports from Hindustan Times and press agency PTIapplicants with dates scheduled after December 15th are the primary target of these cancellations. Delays are not only marginal; some talks have been postponed until October 2026.
The US Embassy in India has issued a notice warning applicants not to attend consular offices on the original date. While the exact number of people affected remains unconfirmed, the scope is described as a “mass cancellation” affecting multiple visa categories beyond the H-1B.
Read also | U.S. wage hike proposal: New rule may increase H-1B and PERM salaries
Earlier this month, in a social media post on X, the embassy said: “If you have received an email notifying you that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India is happy to assist you with a new appointment date. If you arrive on a previously scheduled appointment date, you will be denied entry to the embassy or consulate.”
The timing of the announcement has created a logistical nightmare for the Indian diaspora. Many applicants have already traveled to India specifically for stamp interviews. Without a valid visa in their passports, these workers are now legally barred from returning to their jobs and homes in the United States.
Hundreds, possibly thousands, of highly skilled workers were terminated between December 15 and 26, a period that many H-1B holders are targeting because it coincides with the Christmas holiday period. Times of India.
According to a Washington Post In a statement citing official emails, the US State Department said the talks had been postponed following the Trump administration’s new social media screening policy “to ensure that no applicants … pose a threat to US national security or public safety”.
American companies are facing a talent shortage
Prolonged absences may result in termination of employment as US roles remain unfilled. The uncertainty comes on the heels of a September announcement by the Donald Trump administration that raised H-1B fees to a staggering $100,000.
American companies, which rely on Indians for roughly 71% of all approved H-1B applications, are now facing a significant talent shortage.
The H-1B visa program is a critical conduit for the U.S. technology sector, allowing companies to hire foreign workers with specialized skills. The program, which is usually awarded for the first three years with a three-year renewal option, has long been dominated by Indian professionals.
Read also | Google, Apple warn H-1B, other visa holders to avoid foreign travel
Emily Neumann, an immigration attorney based in Houston, criticized the cancellation of H-1B visa appointments in India.
In a post, X Neumann said: “Visa processing feels like a maze of pitfalls right now. Now appointments are being canceled without warning and pushed back months. The process is unpredictable and creates real challenges for businesses and employees who need to travel.”
Screening on social networks
According to the US State Department, starting on December 15th, an online presence review will be conducted for all H-1B applicants and their dependents.
Students and exchange visitors were already subject to this review, and now the department has expanded this requirement to screen social media profiles to include H1-B applicants and their dependents on H-4 visas.
“To facilitate this screening, all H-1B nonimmigrant (H-4), F, M, and J visa applicants and their dependents are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to ‘public,'” the State Department said.
