US Embassys alert for H-1B, H-4 visa applicants amid stricter screening, vetting measures
Majority of the H-1B visa holders are Indian professionals and Indians account for more than 70 per cent of the beneficiaries. The visa programme is mostly used by tech companies in the US to hire foreign workers.
New Delhi: The United States has said that it is expanding the online presence reviews to all H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening. The US Embassy in India said that the social media vetting is being conducted globally for all applicant of all nationalities seeking H-1B and H-4 visas.
In a statement, the embassy asked H-1B and H-4 visa applicants to apply "as early as they can" and anticipate additional processing time for these visa classifications.
"WORLDWIDE ALERT FOR H-1B AND H-4 VISA APPLICANTS. Beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening. This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities for H1-B and H-4 visas (sic)," the US Embassy said in a post on X.
Indians H-1B visa applicants/holders face hardship
The announcement comes at a time when pre-scheduled interviews of thousands of H-1B visa applicants in India are being abruptly postponed by several months. This also comes at a time when hundreds of Indian H-1B visa holders who travelled to their home country this month to renew work permits are stranded due to cancellation or rescheduling of their interview appointments by several months amid extensive screening and vetting measures.
Why has US tightened vetting for H-1B visa applicants
The US embassy said the move was being implemented as an effort to address abuse of the H-1B programme while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers.
"US embassies and consulates continue to accept and process H-1B and H-4 non-immigrant visa applications. We encourage applicants to apply as early as they can and anticipate additional processing time for these visa classifications," it added.
Indians constitute over 70% of H-1B visa holders in US
Majority of the H-1B visa holders are Indian professionals and Indians account for more than 70 per cent of the beneficiaries. The visa programme is mostly used by tech companies in the US to hire foreign workers. The Trump administration has launched a crackdown to check abuse of the H-1B visa programme, as well as illegal immigration.