New Delhi

Several Indian professionals holding H-1B visas have been left stranded in India after travelling back this month to renew their US work permits, following the sudden rescheduling of visa appointments by American consular offices, according to a report by The Washington Post citing immigration lawyers.

The affected workers had their interview appointments cancelled between December 15 and 26, a period that coincides with the US holiday season. Emails reviewed by the newspaper show that the US State Department informed applicants that interviews were being postponed due to the rollout of a new social media vetting policy introduced by the Trump administration. The measure, the department said, aims to ensure that visa applicants do not pose risks to US national security or public safety.

Earlier this month, the US Embassy in India announced that enhanced scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity and online presence would be extended to all H-1B specialty occupation visa holders and their H-4 dependents. Previously, such checks were primarily applied to student and exchange visitor categories, including F, M and J visas. The expanded review came into effect on December 15.

Immigration attorneys said the sudden change has disrupted travel plans for a large number of professionals. Emily Neumann, a partner at Houston-based law firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC, said at least 100 of her clients are currently stuck in India. Immigration lawyer Veena Vijay Ananth said she was handling dozens of similar cases, while Atlanta-based attorney Charles Kuck reported a comparable number of affected clients.

Calling the situation unprecedented, Ananth said the lack of clarity had created chaos for workers and employers alike. A State Department spokesperson said that US embassies and consulates are now prioritising thorough vetting over faster processing, even if that leads to longer wait times.

India accounts for around 71 per cent of H-1B visa holders, according to an April 2025 report by US Citizenship and Immigration Services. The issue has been compounded by recent policy changes, including a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on September 19 imposing a USD 100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. While current visa holders and petitions filed before the deadline are exempt, the fee applies to all new petitions and entries into the 2026 H-1B lottery.

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Lawyers warned that prolonged delays could have serious consequences for workers and employers, as companies may not be able to wait indefinitely for employees to return to the US.