Indian H-1B Visa Holders Who Flew Back To Renew Work Permits Left Stranded | World News

Indian H-1B visa holders who returned to renew their American work permits this month were left in a difficult situation as their appointments were suddenly rescheduled by US consular offices, Washington Post reported, citing three immigration lawyers.

Appointments of Indian highly skilled workers were canceled between December 15 and 26, coinciding with the US holiday season, lawyers said. In emails viewed by the Washington Post, the State Department told visa holders that their interviews were delayed following the implementation of the Trump administration’s new social media review policy “to ensure that no applicant poses a threat to U.S. national security or public safety.”

The United States has expanded its social media and online presence review to all H-1B professional occupational workers and their H-4 dependents, the U.S. Embassy in India said in a statement on Dec. 10.

The State Department conducts online presence checks for student and exchange visitor visa categories such as F, M and J, a U.S. Embassy spokesperson said in a statement. As of December 15, this review also included H-1B and H-4 applicants.

Emily Neumann, partner at Houston-based immigration firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC, said at least 100 of her clients were stranded in India. Veena Vijay Ananth, an immigration attorney in India, and Charles Kuck, who practices immigration law in Atlanta, said they each have a dozen such cases.

“This is the biggest mess we’ve ever seen. I’m not sure there’s a plan,” Ananth said.

A Department of State spokesperson said: “While in the past the emphasis has been on processing cases quickly and reducing waiting times, our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, now prioritize thoroughly examining each visa case first and foremost.”

India accounts for 71 percent of visa holders, according to an April 2025 report by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

In July, the State Department announced that H-1B holders and H4 visa holders would not be able to renew their documents in a third country as of September 2, and on September 19, Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications.

The Washington Post reported that an Indian man living in the Detroit suburbs said he flew to India for a wedding in early December and that his consular appointments scheduled for December 17 and 23 are now over.

“How much longer will companies be willing to wait for these people?” said Houston-based attorney Neumann. he asked.

This follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement on September 19 demanding a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications. According to the US State Department, existing visa holders and petitions submitted before this date will not be affected. According to the notice, a $100,000 fee will be added to each new H-1B visa petition filed after the deadline, including those submitted to participate in the 2026 lottery.

The new fee requirement applies only to individuals or companies who file new H-1B petitions or enter the H-1B lottery after September 21.