India Flags H-1B Visa Delays With United States

Amid growing delays in H-1B visa interview scheduling, the Indian government has said it has formally raised concerns with US authorities. The issue has affected thousands of Indian professionals who remain unable to secure timely visa appointments.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) acknowledged that visa matters fall under the sovereign jurisdiction of individual countries. However, it also noted that prolonged delays have caused serious hardship for Indian applicants and their families.

Many Applicants Stranded Due to Appointment Delays

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said several Indian nationals have been stranded for extended periods due to repeated scheduling and rescheduling of consular interviews.

“There are several people who have been stranded for extended periods of time because of scheduling or rescheduling of consular appointments, and these have also caused a lot of hardships to their families,” Jaiswal said during a press briefing on Friday.

Applicants whose interviews were scheduled in recent weeks have reportedly received notices pushing appointments as far as May next year, according to sources.

India Engages US Authorities on the Issue

Addressing the matter, Jaiswal said Indian authorities have actively taken up the issue with the US government at multiple levels.

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“While we do understand that visa-related issues pertain to the sovereign domain of any country, we have flagged these issues and concerns of our nationals to the US side, both in New Delhi and in Washington DC,” he said.

“We hope that these delays and disruptions will be addressed,” he added.

New Screening Rules Add to Uncertainty

The delays follow recent changes to the H-1B visa process introduced by the Donald Trump-led US administration. Earlier this month, the US announced an expanded screening process that includes an online presence review for visa applicants and their dependents.

Under the new rule, all applicants for H-1B and H-4 visas, as well as F, M, and J non-immigrant visas, must set their social media profiles to public. The measure took effect on December 15.

The MEA clarified that the online screening rule applies globally and not just to Indian nationals.

“This particular change that they have introduced is applicable globally to all countries,” Jaiswal said, adding that India remains engaged with the US to minimise disruptions.

Indians Most Impacted by Policy Changes

Any change in the H-1B visa system has a direct impact on Indian professionals, who form the largest share of beneficiaries. Indians account for a significant majority of approved H-1B petitions each year.

Over the past few months, the US has also replaced the random lottery system with a process that gives preference to higher-skilled and higher-paid applicants. Additionally, a steep fee of $100,000 was introduced for first-time H-1B applicants.

Concerns Over Tighter Regulations

The fresh changes form part of the Trump administration’s broader push to tighten rules governing the hiring of foreign skilled workers. While US authorities say the measures aim to curb misuse, Indian officials remain concerned about prolonged uncertainty for applicants.

The MEA said it will continue to raise the matter with US authorities to protect the interests of Indian nationals affected by the delays.

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