Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:20am on 23 Dec 2025,Tuesday India Global
The US Embassy announced expanded online presence reviews for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants globally, effective December 15, as part of standard screening procedures. This enhanced vetting targets program abuse while permitting companies to hire qualified foreign workers. Thousands of pre-scheduled visa interviews in India are being postponed by several months, with December 15 appointments rescheduled to March and December 19 slots moved to late May. Indian professionals, forming the largest H-1B holder group, face significant delays. Many applicants already in India cannot return to the US without valid visas. The Embassy urges early applications and warns of additional processing times, emphasizing that US visas are "a privilege, not a right." (PC: NDTV)
