US Embassy tells Indians expect delay in H-1B, H-4 visa issuance, work permit holders stranded
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON –The US embassy in India on Monday advised Indian nationals to expect delays in the grant of H-1B and H-4 visas due to the launch of expanded “online presence reviews” starting December 15.
The embassy said these screenings have been launched for all applicants of all nationalities globally.
It said all applicants seeking to submit non-immigrant visa applications should submit those as early as they can, as processing times for H-1B and H-4 visas have increased.
US embassy in India tweeted “WORLDWIDE ALERT FOR H-1B AND H-4 VISA APPLICANTS. Beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening. This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities for H1-B and H-4 visas. It is an effort to address abuse of the H-1B program while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers.”
“US embassies and consulates continue to accept and process H-1B and H-4 nonimmigrant visa applications. We encourage applicants to apply as early as they can and anticipate additional processing time for these visa classifications,” it added.
In a message posted on December 9, the embassy had informed applicants that their appointments had been rescheduled.
“ATTENTION VISA APPLICANTS if you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date. Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate,” it said.
The embassy message came as reports said Indian H-1B visa holders, who had returned to India to renew their US work permits, have been left stranded. The Washington Post reported that their appointments are being rescheduled by US consular offices.
The Indian high-skilled workers have been told that their appointments have been rescheduled due to the implementation of the Trump administration’s new social media vetting policy.
The new policy aims at social media vetting in order to ensure that no applicant poses a threat to the US national security or public safety.
“The United States has expanded its review of social media and online presence to cover all H-1B speciality occupation workers and their H-4 dependents,” the US Embassy in India had stated on December 10.
H-1B and H-4 visa applicants have been included in the social media vetting which was already in place for student and exchange visitor visa categories like F, M, and J.
“While in the past the emphasis may have been on processing cases quickly and reducing wait times, our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, are now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else,” a spokesperson for the State Department was quoted as saying in media.
