NEW DELHI : In a post on X, the US Embassy in India announced that beginning December 15, the US Department of State has extended online presence reviews to all H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening. The embassy clarified that the vetting applies globally to applicants of all nationalities and is aimed at addressing alleged abuse of the H-1B programme, while still allowing US companies to hire highly skilled temporary foreign workers.

Despite the expanded checks, US embassies and consulates continue to accept and process H-1B and H-4 non-immigrant visa applications. Applicants, however, have been advised to apply as early as possible and be prepared for additional processing time due to enhanced scrutiny.

The move is part of a broader clampdown on non-immigrant visas under the administration of Donald Trump, with visa categories such as H-1B, F-1 and J-1 significantly affected by recent policy modifications. Several visa holders have reportedly been left stranded in their home countries after travelling for visa renewals, as US consulates delay or cancel interview appointments to carry out more extensive background checks.

In India, the impact has been immediate. Hundreds of Indian H-1B visa holders who returned in December to renew their work permits are reportedly stranded after US consular offices abruptly cancelled scheduled interviews, issuing new appointment dates months later.

The heightened scrutiny has cast a shadow over the H-1B programme, long considered a cornerstone of US immigration policy for attracting global talent. Indians account for over 70 per cent of H-1B visa recipients, but the programme has increasingly faced pushback from President Trump and his allies as part of a wider anti-immigration policy shift, raising fresh concerns among skilled professionals and employers alike.

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