India Seeks Urgent Action from US on H-1B Visa Delays Amid Families' Hardships

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The Indian government has expressed its deep concern over the delays and difficulties faced by Indian nationals in scheduling H-1b visa appointments. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the Indian authorities are actively engaged with the US side to address the issue, despite visa matters being within the sovereign domain of the issuing country. The MEA received several representations from Indian nationals who are facing delays or problems with rescheduling their visa appointments. These individuals, including many families, have been left stranded for extended periods, causing significant hardships to their families, education, and overall well-being. The US government has recently expanded its review process for H-1b visa applicants and their dependents, effective December 15th. This change applies globally and aims to give greater weight to those with higher skills in the selection process. The Indian government remains committed to working with the US side to address the issue and minimize the impact on Indian nationals. The MEA spokesperson emphasized that the government is actively engaged with the US authorities to resolve the matter and ensure that the difficulties faced by Indian nationals are addressed. This comes as a federal judge upheld the Trump administration's decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1b applications, citing the US President's effort to increase the cost of the popular visa as lawful. The US Chamber of Commerce can appeal the decision. The US Department of Homeland Security has also scrapped the random lottery system for selecting H-1B visa beneficiaries, replacing it with a weighted selection system that gives greater weight to those with higher skills. The new rule aims to ensure that the most skilled workers are selected for the visa.