Lots of of Indian H-1B visa holders stay stranded in India amid extended delays in US visa stamping, whilst the problem attracts sharp political commentary in the USA.
Nalin Haley, son of former US ambassador to the UN and Republican chief Nikki Haley, has weighed in on the controversy, calling for a whole ban on the H-1B visa programme. In a put up on X, he wrote, “Delaying visas is nice however not adequate. We want an entire H-1B visa ban.”
Haley additionally mocked critics of the visa delays, claiming they argue that “Indians can’t be ‘stranded’ in India.” He additional alleged that the Indian authorities raised the problem with Washington primarily as a result of “they need their remittance cash.”
The remarks come as a whole bunch of Indian professionals face uncertainty after travelling to India for visa stamping and discovering their appointments postponed by a number of months. Many had returned after the US administration made it obligatory for H-1B holders to finish visa stamping of their nation of origin earlier than re-entering the US.
In response to stories, a number of candidates who had secured stamping appointments for January had been knowledgeable that their slots had been pushed to 2026, starting March–April. And not using a contemporary visa stamp, these staff are barred from returning to the US, leaving them unable to renew their jobs. There may be additionally confusion over whether or not employers will allow them to work remotely from India in the course of the prolonged wait.
In some instances, Indian nationals holding beforehand legitimate H-1B visas stated they travelled dwelling for holidays solely to find that their visas had been revoked. Officers reportedly knowledgeable them that re-entry into the US wouldn’t be allowed with out acquiring a brand new stamp, probably forcing them to stay in India for no less than six months.
Delays have been additional compounded since December 15, when H-1B and H-4 (dependent) candidates turned topic to social media vetting as a part of enhanced scrutiny measures.
In the meantime, calls for a whole overhaul of the H-1B system have grown louder amongst MAGA-aligned activists. The administration has proposed changing the present random lottery system with a wage-based choice mannequin, beneath which higher-paid candidates would obtain precedence.
Prior to now, Haley has tied his opposition to the H-1B programme to issues about younger People being priced out of jobs and housing. Talking on Fox Information earlier, he stated current graduates are struggling to seek out employment and are competing with “international staff who’re keen to work half their wage and AI,” arguing that the American dream is changing into more and more out of attain for youthful generations.
