According to three immigration lawyers specializing in H-1B visa, due to the sudden cancellation of appointments by the U.S. Consulate and rescheduling the appointments to several months later, Indian employees who returned to India this month to renew their H-1B visas have been forced to stay in their home country. One immigration lawyer practicing in the United States mentioned that around 100 clients are stranded in India.
The Washington Post reported on December 19 that lawyers stated that appointments for hundreds (possibly even thousands) of highly skilled workers between December 15 and 26 were canceled. Many H-1B visa holders chose to renew during this period as it coincided with the U.S. holiday season.
In emails seen by The Washington Post, the U.S. State Department informed visa holders that due to the implementation of a new social media review policy, their interviews were delayed to “ensure that no applicant poses a threat to U.S. national security or public safety.”
U.S. technology companies use H-1B visas to recruit high-tech employees from overseas, with a significant number of applicants coming from India and China.
The Trump administration has ordered an increase in background checks for H-1B visa applicants for high-skilled workers, and anyone involved in speech that involves “review” of any kind will be considered for rejection.
Lawyers told The Washington Post that workers with expired visas are worried about losing their jobs. Emily Neumann, a partner at Houston immigration law firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC, stated that she has at least 100 clients stranded in India. Indian immigration lawyer Veena Vijay Ananth and Atlanta-based immigration lawyer Charles Kuck each reported having over a dozen similar cases.
These workers, many of whom are in their 30s and 40s, have been living in the U.S. for many years. They are now actively seeking alternative job arrangements with U.S. companies.
The Washington Post reached out to the White House and the U.S. Embassy in India for comments on the matter, but they directed the reporter to the U.S. State Department.
A spokesperson for the State Department stated, “While in the past there may have been more emphasis on processing cases quickly and reducing wait times, now embassies and consulates worldwide, including in India, are prioritizing thorough review of every visa application.”
According to a USCIS report from April 2025, India has long been the biggest beneficiary of the H-1B program, accounting for 71% of visa holders. USCIS data shows that as of September, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft were the top three employers of H-1B visa holders.
Additionally, according to a report by Business Insider on December 20, Google and Apple have issued warnings to employees holding U.S. visas to avoid international travel due to delays in visa processing at U.S. embassies abroad.
According to reports, Google’s memo applies to H-1B, H-4, F, J, and M visa holders, and appointments at some U.S. embassies and consulates are delayed for up to one year.