The US Department of State has acknowledged significant delays in visa appointments at American embassies and consulates worldwide, including in India, as processing times stretch up to 12 months due to enhanced screening procedures. In a statement to Business Insider, a State Department spokesperson confirmed that consular offices are now “prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else” over the previous emphasis on reducing wait times.The delays have prompted Google and Apple to issue travel advisories to employees holding H-1B visas and their dependents, warning them against international travel due to the “risk of an extended stay” outside the United States. The companies’ immigration law firms sent memos this week advising visa holders who need their visas stamped for re-entry to avoid leaving the country, as appointment cancellations and rescheduling could leave them stranded abroad for months.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platform screening causes appointment backlog.
The bottleneck stems from new social media screening requirements implemented by the Trump administration, affecting H-1B workers, their dependents, students, and exchange visitors. According to immigration firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC, appointments have been postponed across multiple countries including Ireland and Vietnam, with hundreds of Indian professionals reportedly stuck after their December visa renewal appointments were abruptly cancelled.The Department of State maintains that applicants can request expedited appointments on a case-by-case basis and may have their slots moved as resources change. However, the new vetting process requires “online presence reviews” to screen applicants who may pose national security risks, significantly extending processing times beyond historical norms.
Tech companies most affected by H-1B disruptions
The visa delays particularly impact technology companies that rely heavily on the H-1B program, which caps new visas at 85,000 annually. During fiscal year 2024, Google applied for 5,537 H-1B visas while Apple sought 3,880, according to Department of Labor and USCIS data analyzed by Business Insider. Indians account for over 70% of H-1B visas issued.Immigration attorney Jason Finkelman advised that foreign nationals with valid visa stamps should generally be able to return to the US, but recommended clients avoid non-essential travel. “If travel isn’t essential right now, better to stay put,” he said, noting that H-1B workers stuck abroad due to canceled consular appointments face uncertain timelines for returning to work in the United States.
