Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:32pm on 16 Dec 2025,Tuesday India Global
Thousands of Indian H-1B visa holders and H-4 dependents are stranded in India after the US Embassy abruptly canceled appointments starting December 9, 2025. The disruption stems from a new US Department of State mandate requiring "online presence review" including social media and digital footprint screening effective December 15. This significantly reduced daily interview capacity, forcing consulates to slash available slots. India bears the brunt as over 70% of global H-1B visas go to Indian nationals. The rescheduling affects all visa categories including B1/B2, F-1, and L-1. Options for stranded workers include waiting for rescheduled appointments, requesting emergency slots with documentation, working remotely from India while maintaining US payroll, or exploring third-country stamping in Canada or Mexico.(PC: Daily Excelsior)
