Trump's new strictness creates new crisis on H-1B visa (file photo)
Digital Desk, New Delhi. A routine trip has now become a major hassle for thousands of Indian H-1B visa holders working in the US. People who came to India for marriage, holiday, family needs or visa stamping are now forced to get stuck here for months. The reason is a new rule of the Trump administration, which changed everything without warning.
H-1B visa holders usually return to India after getting their visa stamped at the US Embassy. The work permit (H-1B status) of many people was valid, but the entry visa in the passport had expired. This process usually took a few days.
But this time the situation is different. On December 3, the US State Department issued new rules, which will come into effect from December 15. Under this, social media checking of all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants has been made mandatory.
Huge delay in Viz interview
Due to this new rule, the pace of visa interviews has become very slow in the big American consulates in India, especially in Hyderabad and Chennai. Many appointments scheduled for December 2025 have been canceled. Now these appointments are being pushed from March 2026 to June 2026. The US Embassy has clearly stated that arriving on the old appointment date will not result in a visa.
According to the new rule, visa applicants will have to make all their social media accounts public. US authorities will thoroughly investigate the applicant's online activities. This will include posts, comments, likes, shares and other information available on the internet. The authorities will have the right to see whether the applicant's post is against America, its institutions or citizens.
What things can become a problem?
The concern of the people trapped on social media is clearly visible. Some are afraid of losing their jobs, while others are worried about their children's education. One person wrote, "My appointment of December 18 has been postponed to March 2026. Had to return to America in January, my children are not able to go to school."
threat of job loss
Immigration attorney Ellen Freeman warned that many H-1B workers could lose their jobs. Many companies cannot wait for 5-6 months and in many cases remote work from India is not legally possible. People have left home rent, car loans and bills in America. Such a long delay will have a direct impact on families and the economy.
Indians are most affected
About 70% of those who get H-1B visas are Indians. India will get about 80,500 new H-1B visas in FY 2024, while China will get about 19,600. Therefore this strictness is affecting Indian IT professionals the most.
This strictness is no longer limited to work visas only. America is working on a new proposal, under which social media information of the last 5 years can also be sought from tourists and business travelers. This will also affect travelers from countries like UK, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, who used to travel visa-free till now.
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