HYDERABAD: Prolonged delays in US H-1B visa appointments, triggered by a new social media vetting policy, are leaving several Indians stranded in India and placing their jobs at risk.
Some applicants have seen their visa stamping appointments pushed to 2026, forcing companies to take tough decisions on employment continuity.
Several Indian professionals who travelled to India for routine visa stamping or family visits are now unable to return to the US within permitted timelines. A few have already lost their jobs, while many others fear termination due to extended absence from the US.
An IT professional working in the US, travelled to India for family ceremonies and visa stamping, with an appointment scheduled for December 18. After completing biometric formalities, his appointment was deferred to April 2026.
"Under US rules, my company has decided to remove me from payroll as I will be outside the US for more than three months. I have lost my job and am stuck in India with no clarity on the future," he said.
Mandatory disclosure of social media accounts
The delays follow a new policy introduced by the US State Department mandating enhanced social media vetting. H-1B applicants and their H-4 dependents are now required to make their social media accounts public and disclose usernames or IDs used on major platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, even if the accounts have been inactive over the past five years.
The policy applies to visa appointments scheduled on or after December 15 and is aimed at conducting more comprehensive background checks, officials said.
In another instance, a data analyst whose visa appointment was scheduled for December 17 received an email stating that it had been rescheduled to May 2026. Despite holding a critical role, his employer declined requests for remote work from India, citing restrictions under the Labour Condition Application (LCA) and company policy.
"Leaving all my belongings in my apartment, I came to India in November assuming I would return to the US by January 2026. With my appointment now pushed to April 2026, I am unsure if my job will be retained," he said.
Some managers have reportedly allowed informal remote work arrangements for employees who were already working remotely in the US before travelling to India for visa stamping. However, both employees and employers remain wary of violating LCA norms and immigration rules.
Google issues travel advisory
The uncertainty has prompted Google to issue an internal advisory asking employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to avoid international travel. The advisory follows reports of extended visa stamping delays at US embassies and consulates.
BAL Immigration Law, Google's external counsel, has reportedly sent a memo to employees requiring visa stamps for re-entry into the US, advising them not to travel abroad as processing times have stretched significantly.
According to the memo, US embassies and consulates are reporting visa stamping delays of up to one year, impacting both H-1B workers and their dependents.