US Visa Alert: H-1B and H-4 Holders Warned Against Non-Essential Travel to India Amid Visa Delays

A US immigration lawyer is advising H-1B and H-4 visa holders to reconsider non-essential travel plans to India, citing prolonged delays in visa processing due to expanded social media vetting. Visa applicants in India are facing uncertainty about the timing and possibility of their return to the US, with many appointments rescheduled for March 2026 or later. Immigration attorney Rahul Reddy warns that those planning to travel for visa stamping should be prepared for a prolonged stay in India, as no one can predict how long the process will take. Reddy emphasizes that emergency visa appointments are limited and not guaranteed, and that family emergencies may not qualify as urgent circumstances. The US administration is not restricting travel to India, but visa officers are not prioritizing cases for visa stamping. H-1B and H-4 visa holders may face significant job challenges while stranded outside the US, as new employers would need to file a fresh petition and pay a $100,000 fee. This has made routine travel a daunting decision for many, with uncertain timelines extending into 2026. Reddy advises H-1B and H-4 visa holders to carefully weigh the risks and consider the potential consequences of non-essential travel to India, where visa delays are causing significant concern among workers and their dependents.