India Raises H-1B Visa Delays with US Amid Growing Concerns for Professionals

India has formally raised concerns with the United States over delays in H-1B visa processing, citing prolonged appointment backlogs and procedural hurdles that have caused hardship for Indian nationals, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

Responding to queries, the MEA confirmed that it has received multiple representations from Indian citizens affected by long waiting periods for visa appointments, particularly those applying for H-1B and related categories. These delays have reportedly left several professionals stranded, disrupting employment plans and family arrangements.

“These issues have been flagged with the US authorities both in New Delhi and Washington DC,” the MEA said, adding that the matter has been taken up through diplomatic channels to seek timely relief for affected applicants.

US Takes Steps to Address Backlog

The MEA noted that the US side has acknowledged the problem and initiated corrective measures. From December 15, the US expanded appointment scheduling capacity in an effort to clear the existing backlog and improve processing timelines.

“The Government of India remains actively engaged with the US side to ensure smoother and more predictable visa processing for Indian nationals,” the ministry said.

Increased Scrutiny and Policy Uncertainty

The developments come amid heightened scrutiny of the H-1B programme. The US Embassy in India recently announced that it has begun conducting online presence reviews of all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants as part of efforts to curb misuse of the visa programme.

At the same time, policy proposals under consideration in the US are adding to uncertainty for applicants and employers. The US Department of Labor has proposed changes to wage protection rules that could significantly raise prevailing wage requirements for H-1B workers, potentially discouraging companies from sponsoring foreign talent.

Separately, a proposal by the Department of Homeland Security to prioritise higher-paid applicants in the H-1B lottery process is reportedly close to final approval.

Impact on Indian Professionals

Experts warn that these measures could limit access to the H-1B programme for recent graduates and early-career professionals, even in high-demand and emerging technology sectors. Any major policy shift is also expected to disproportionately impact Indian professionals, who have consistently accounted for over 70 per cent of H-1B visa recipients in recent years.