H-1B and H-4 Visa Holders Face Prudential Visa Revocation

Hundreds of Indians on H-1B work visas, along with their H-4 dependent spouses and children, are stranded in India following abrupt cancellations of US visa interview appointments, plunging families into uncertainty and distress. For many, the delays have already triggered family separations, disrupted school years, and placed careers on the brink.

The outcry has been swift and emotional. Across social media platforms and private WhatsApp groups, stranded applicants share stories of cancelled plans, empty apartments back in the US, and children separated from one parent for months at a time. What was meant to be a short visit home has turned into an indefinite wait with no clear end in sight.

H-1B: Mass Interview Cancellations Spark Crisis

As first reported by The Times of India on December 10, US consulates across India cancelled large numbers of H-1B and H-4 visa interview slots scheduled for mid to late December 2025. Many applicants saw their appointments automatically pushed to March 2026, while others were given dates as late as June 2026.

The disruption followed a new US Department of State (DoS) policy mandating enhanced social media screening for all H-1B and H-4 applicants from December 15. While officials have framed the move as an operational necessity, the additional vetting has significantly reduced the number of interviews consulates can process each day, triggering widespread rescheduling.

The US Embassy in India acknowledged the changes in a post on X, warning applicants not to appear on their original dates if their appointments had been rescheduled, as doing so would result in denial of entry to the consulate.

Families Speak Out: “We Are Stuck”

The response from affected families has been one of frustration and desperation. One applicant wrote online, pleading for compassion:
“Please consider those who travelled to India before the appointment changes. We are stuck here, facing serious challenges related to employment and our US-citizen kids’ education. We humbly request earlier consular appointments.”

Another shared a similar ordeal:
“My H-1B appointment for December 18 was suddenly moved to March 30, 2026. My US-citizen children need to return to school in January. We don’t know what to do.”

For many, the uncertainty is compounded by the fact that their lives — homes, cars, utilities, and long-term commitments — remain firmly rooted in the United States.

H-1B: Legal Experts Warn of Job Losses and Long-Term Damage

Immigration attorneys say the fallout could be severe. Rajiv S. Khanna, managing attorney at Immigration.com, described the situation as “brutal chaos,” noting that applicants are allowed only one opportunity to reschedule online and that visa fee receipts older than a year are deemed expired.

Attorney Ellen Freeman warned that many H-1B workers could lose their jobs altogether. Employers, she explained, are often unable to accommodate extended remote work from India due to tax, payroll, or compliance restrictions.
“In this economic climate, many companies simply cannot wait five months,” she said. “People left apartments, sold cars, and paused their lives. There are real human stories behind every cancelled visa.”

Advisory Against Travel and Harsh Criticism of Rollout

Rahul Reddy, founding partner at Reddy, Neumann, Brown, has urged H-1B holders to avoid international travel if visa stamping is required. In a recent advisory, he cautioned that travellers risk being stranded abroad for four to six months, with no guarantee their jobs will still exist upon return.

Calling the policy change poorly planned and poorly implemented, Reddy argued that enhanced vetting should not come at the cost of shutting down routine visa processing.
“You cannot claim to support legal immigration while blindsiding families with six-month delays,” he wrote. “Routine renewals should not turn into half-year exiles.”