Due to new social media screening procedures, U.S. consulates have cancelled appointments for Indian H-1B visa holders coming to renew their work permits, leaving them stuck.
According to The Washington Post, which cited three immigration lawyers who handle H-1B cases, Indian H-1B visa holders who returned to India this month to renew their US work permits have been left stranded after American consulates abruptly cancelled their appointments and pushed them back by several months.
The lawyers said that hundreds, if not thousands, of highly qualified individuals had their appointments canceled between December 15 and 26, a timeframe that many H-1B holders select because it coincides with the US holiday season.
Following the implementation of the Trump administration's new social media screening policy, the State Department notified applicants that their interviews were being postponed, citing the need to make sure that no applicants pose a threat to public safety or U.S. national security, according to emails obtained by The Washington Post.
Following the implementation of the Trump administration's new social media screening policy, the State Department notified applicants via emails obtained by The Washington Post that their interviews were being postponed, citing the need to make sure that no applicants pose a threat to public safety or U.S. national security.
According to the lawyers, the sudden cancellations have caused chaos in people's lives, leaving them stranded on expired visas and fearing job loss. Emily Neumann, a partner at the Houston-based immigration firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC, said at least 100 of her clients are stranded in India.
Charles Kuck, an immigration lawyer in Atlanta, and Veena Vijay Ananth, an immigration lawyer in India, said they are each dealing with over a dozen cases of a similar nature.
Ananth, who has worked on H-1B cases for more than 20 years, declared, "This is the biggest mess we have seen." "I don't think a plan exists."
"While in the past the emphasis may have been on processing cases quickly and reducing wait times, our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, are now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else," a State Department spokesperson told the Washington Post.
What's involved?
Due to the increased screening procedures, the H-1B visa applicants' scheduled interviews have been canceled in large numbers, which will cause major delays in their return to the United States. All candidates who were previously scheduled for interviews will have their appointments rescheduled starting on December 15.
According to PTI, interviews for a number of other visa applicant categories are also being delayed due to the new guidelines for closely examining applicants' social media accounts.
It is not immediately apparent how many candidates were affected by the delays in the visa interviews.
On the basis of their prearranged interview dates, the U.S. embassy in India has advised visa applicants not to visit the consular offices.
It stated, "Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date if you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled."
It stated, "You will be denied admission to the Embassy or Consulate if you arrive on your previously scheduled appointment date."
A significant first step toward reforming the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program was taken in September when Trump signed a proclamation titled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers."
Trump declared a one-time price of USD 100,000 on new H-1B visas under the Proclamation, a move that is anticipated to affect Indian professionals looking to work in the US.
Trump's assault on visas
As part of its larger immigration enforcement agenda, the Trump administration has taken steps to further restrict the H-1B visa program, including increased surveillance of visa applicants' internet accounts and social media activities.
Under the H-1B program, U.S. businesses can hire foreign workers with specialized talents for a three-year initial term that can be extended for an additional three years.
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 71% of granted H-1B applications in recent years have been from Indians.
0 Comments