India Seeks Urgent US Action to Address H-1B Visa Delays and Disruptions

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India has expressed concerns to the US over the recent cancellation and rescheduling of H-1B visa appointments for Indian nationals, impacting thousands of applicants. The US has tightened regulations on hiring skilled foreign professionals, including a $100,000 fee for first-time H-1B visa applicants and expanded social media vetting for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the Indian government has flagged these issues to the US, both in Delhi and Washington, and is actively engaged with the US side to address the disruptions. The changes have affected thousands of Indian nationals, including those who have travelled to India to renew their H-1B visas. India hopes that the US will address the delays and disruptions in the H-1B visa application process, which have caused hardship to families and affected the education of children. The Indian government is also engaged in talks with the US on a proposed bilateral trade deal, with both sides working towards a fair and mutually beneficial agreement. Notably, more than 70% of H-1B applications approved since 2010 have gone to Indian workers. However, the number of first-time H-1B visa applications approved for Indian IT companies has seen a significant decline in recent years, with the lowest figure in a decade recorded in 2025.