Many Indians heading home for the holidays now find themselves stuck in a very stressful visa situation. The US State Department postponed thousands of H-1B visa interviews in India, leaving workers confused, angry, and searching for answers. On social media, users slammed the sudden delays, describing them as “performative cruelty” and even a “humiliation ritual,” with many saying the visa system now feels broken for both applicants and new graduates in the US.
H-1B visa interviews in India delayed
The US State Department has postponed H-1B visa interviews that were supposed to take place in mid to late December. Emails sent out this week told applicants that their appointments were being moved, some as far as next summer. The reason — new social-media screening rules.
From December 15, H-1B and H-4 applicants must keep their social media profiles publicly accessible for US consular review. Because of this extra checking, consulates in cities like Chennai and Hyderabad have also reduced the number of daily interview slots. The State Department hasn’t clarified how many interviews are affected. Biometric appointments, however, will stay unchanged.
Social media reacts to H-1B visa postponement
December is one of the busiest months for visa renewals, especially for Indians working in US tech firms. On top of that, the US recently tightened its rules so H-1B workers cannot seek renewal appointments in other countries. They must interview in India only. Social media is flooded with frustration, anger, and some harsh criticism.
Deepal Shenoy, CEO of Capitalmind, called the whole program a “trap.” In a post on X he wrote, “This is exactly why I don’t like the H1B program. It’s a form of indentured servitude with the dangling carrot of a green card. I’m sure a lot of people love it. It feels like a trap to me… realised it in 1997 when I was offered one, seems it hasn’t changed today.”
One user shared his ordeal about flying 20 hours for a renewal, only to receive an email saying: “appointment cancelled… no refund… no alternative… wait six months.”
“Unfortunate humiliation ritual for Indians. There should be a way to absorb all the high-skilled labor force within India itself,” one X user commented. Meanwhile, some voices on the American right cheered the delays, calling for the H-1B and OPT programs to be shut down entirely.
A few Indians argued that this chaos is a reminder to “come back and build in India,” with posts praising the country’s growth and opportunities. “Why waste time and endure the stress and uncertainty of these visa processes? India, the world’s fastest-growing large economy, offers unprecedented opportunities for entrepreneurship and work. Return to India,” one more chimed in.
One attorney called the sudden rescheduling a “low blow,” saying people plan holiday appointments for months, and now everything has been “pulled out from under them.”
This move is part of the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown on immigration. Trump earlier imposed a $100,000 fee on employers hiring H-1B workers from abroad and proposed an overhaul of the lottery system. More federal agencies are now focusing on H-1B compliance, along with expanded checks for work involving “censorship of free speech,” which means officers will also review resumes and LinkedIn profiles.
