NEW DELHI, India — December 26, 2025 —
India has expressed serious concerns to the United States over the sudden rescheduling of thousands of H-1B and H-4 visa interviews, attributing the delays to enhanced social media vetting measures implemented by US consulates.
During a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the government has received numerous complaints from Indian nationals stranded due to appointments originally scheduled from mid-December 2025 being pushed back several months, in some cases to March 2026 or later.
Jaiswal emphasized that while visa matters fall under a country’s sovereign domain, India has actively engaged with US authorities in New Delhi and Washington to minimize the impact. The delays have caused significant economic, familial, and educational hardships for affected professionals and their families.
The US consulates in India cited operational constraints from mandatory online presence reviews—expanded to all H-1B and H-4 applicants starting December 15, 2025—as the reason for reducing interview volumes and mass rescheduling.
On other issues affecting overseas Indians, Jaiswal noted that Indian authorities are in contact with Australian counterparts regarding the recent terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to bringing fugitive offenders back to face justice through ongoing extradition talks with various countries.
Regarding the death of an Indian doctoral student in Canada, the MEA expressed deep condolences, stating that the consulate is providing full assistance to the family and coordinating with local authorities for details on the circumstances.
The MEA reiterated India’s unwavering commitment to protecting the interests of its citizens abroad, whether involving visa issues, security concerns, or justice.
