Thousands of Indian Professionals Stranded in India as U.S. Cancels H-1B Visa Appointments

Washington/Delhi, December 20, 2025: Thousands of Indian tech professionals visiting India to renew their U.S. work permits have been left stranded after the U.S. State Department abruptly canceled their visa appointments. The cancellations, affecting appointments scheduled between December 15 and 26, have left many workers and their families in uncertainty, with some facing potential job risks in the United States.

According to immigration lawyers and reports from The Washington Post, the sudden cancellations are linked to the Trump administration’s new social media vetting policy, which aims to ensure that visa applicants do not pose national or public security risks. Appointments have now been rescheduled months later, with some cases deferred as far ahead as mid-2027.

The H-1B visa program, which allows highly skilled foreign workers to live and work in the U.S. for up to six years, has historically been dominated by Indian professionals, who account for approximately 71% of visa holders. This sudden disruption has created significant challenges, especially for workers in their 30s and 40s who have families and children studying in the U.S., forcing some to make difficult decisions about separation from their loved ones.

Legal experts describe the situation as unprecedented. Emily Newman, partner at immigration firm Reddy Newman Brown PC, stated that at least 100 of her clients are currently stranded in India. Vina Vijay Anant, an immigration attorney in India, called it “the biggest disruption we have seen in H-1B processing.”

The U.S. State Department emphasized that while earlier priorities were placed on expediting cases, the current policy focuses on thorough review of every visa application to maintain security standards globally. The new policy also restricts H-1B and H-4 dependents from renewing their visas remotely or in a third country, requiring them to return to their home country for processing. Additionally, applicants now face a $100,000 fee and enhanced screening measures.

Affected workers report severe personal and professional stress. A Detroit-based Indian engineer, who requested anonymity, shared that his appointments for December 17 and 23 were canceled and rescheduled to July 2, 2027. While his company intervened to expedite one appointment, uncertainty remains. “Sudden changes like this could severely impact both workers and U.S. companies relying on their skills,” he said.

This abrupt disruption highlights the vulnerability of thousands of Indian professionals dependent on the H-1B program, underscoring growing tensions in U.S.-India talent flows amid evolving immigration policies.