Archive · 24 Dec 2025
Indian Group Urges Calibrated H-1B Vetting
Many people who work in the US with H-1B visas had to go back to India to renew their visas.
But the US government suddenly changed the dates of their appointments to much later, from December 2025 to 2026.
This happened because the US started checking social media profiles more carefully.
Many of these workers are tech employees who have lived in the US for years.
Some have families, and now they have to decide if they should send their kids back alone or stay separated.
The H-1B visa is very important for Indian workers, as most of these visas go to people from India.
The US government also made the visa more expensive, which affects workers who want to work temporarily in the US.
The US says this is to stop people from misusing the visa program, but it's causing a lot of problems for the workers.
A group of Indian Americans wrote a letter to the US President asking to make the new rules less strict so that workers can return to the US without too many delays.
A leading Indian American policy organization urged the Trump administration to adopt a more calibrated approach to expanded social media vetting for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants.
The new policy, effective December 15, has led to widespread cancellations and rescheduling of visa appointments, pushing many from December 2025 into March 2026 or later.
Thousands of H-1B holders are currently stranded abroad, with the impact falling heavily on Indian nationals who account for 70-75% of approvals.
Major technology companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft have issued advisories warning employees against international travel due to unpredictable delays.
The organization proposed prioritizing pre-interview vetting for applicants with confirmed slots and capping post-interview administrative processing at one month to alleviate hardships.
- Who
- H-1B and H-4 visa holders, primarily Indian tech workers and their families
- What
- Rescheduling of visa appointments due to enhanced vetting
- When
- Appointments originally scheduled for December 2025, rescheduled to 2026
- Where
- US consular offices in India
- Why
- Implementation of new social media vetting policy by the Trump administration
US Government
Indian Tech Workers
Visa Vetting Policy
US Government
The US government has expanded online presence reviews for all H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening to address abuse of the H-1B program.
Indian Tech Workers
Indian tech workers are facing significant delays and hardships due to the rescheduling of visa appointments, which disrupts their lives and careers.
- Visa Types Affected
- H-1B and H-4
- Affected Group
- Tech workers and their families, primarily Indian
- Original Appointment Dates
- December 15-26, 2025
- Rescheduled Dates
- March-June 2026
- Reason for Rescheduling
- New social media vetting policy
- Percentage of Indian H-1B Holders
- 70-75%
- New Visa Fee
- $100,000 annually
- Impacted Companies
- Google, Apple, Microsoft
Sources
H-1B visa: Hundreds of visa holders stranded in India as US consular offices reschedule appointments
Vetting being conducted globally for all applicants of all nationalities for H1-B, H-4 visas: US Embassy
US expands online vetting for all H-1B, H-4 applicants
US Asks Visa Applicants to Apply Early
Why is Trump administration cracking down on H-1B visa workers? JD Vance cites ‘true Christian politics’
US Embassy's 'H-1B, H-4 Visa Alert' Amid Enhanced Vetting And Interview Delays
FIIDS urges Trump administration to ease H-1B visa delays
US: Indian-American Group Urges President Donald Trump To Calibrate Social Media Vetting For H-1B, H-4 Visas
‘Apply early’: US Embassy warns of delays as social media checks expand for H-1B, H-4 visas
H1B interview cancellation is splitting Indian families. ‘My kid needs his mother’
Google Signals Green Card Restart for H-1B Workers in 2026 After Two-Year Pause
Green Card Applications by Google To Restart via PERM in 2026 after 3 Year Pause: What It Means
India is one of the most important relationships: US Embassy amid visa row
Google To Resume Green Card Sponsorship For H-1B Holders In 2026: Eligibility Details Inside
New US H-1B rules could hit Indian IT firms as DHS ends lottery
Trump administration replaces H-1B lottery with salary-based selection effective from February 27
H-1B visa holders may face more renewal delays due to Christmas, long weekend amid appointment cancellations
