US Visa Delays Leave Indian H-1B Holders 'Stranded', Google Warns Employees Against International Travel

US visa applicants face unprecedented delays, leaving hundreds of Indian H-1B holders 'stranded' in the country. The new social media screening rules, implemented on December 15, have caused chaos in the visa application process, resulting in multiple cancellations and delayed appointments until June 2026. According to the Washington Post, hundreds, possibly thousands, of skilled workers have seen their appointments canceled, forcing them to wait several months for a new interview. The State Department has attributed the delays to the new social media vetting procedure, which requires applicants to make their accounts public. This change, along with a $100,000 fee for new applicants and modified selection procedures, has raised concerns about the H-1B visa program, widely used by the US technology industry to hire skilled workers from India and China. Google has advised its visa-dependent employees not to travel abroad due to the prolonged processing delays. An internal memo warns that employees risk an extended stay outside the US if they require a visa stamp for re-entry. The US government's new screening procedures also require H-1B applicants and their dependents to set their social media profiles to public to facilitate vetting. Every visa adjudication is now considered a national security decision, according to the State Department. The delays and new requirements have left many H-1B holders in a precarious situation, with some facing wait times of up to a year at US embassies and consulates.