Indian professionals stranded back home as U.S. visa renewals face inordinate delay

NEW DELHI, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Indian professionals holding H-1B visas and had returned home during the ongoing festival season in India remained stranded as their interviews for renewal of work permits had been postponed by the U.S. embassy or consulates by as long as over 12 months, or even more.

According to media reports, such interviews were "abruptly rescheduled" by the U.S. embassy in New Delhi and consulates in several cities, particularly Chennai and Hyderabad.

"The Department of State regularly shifts appointments as needed to match resource availability. We will communicate any changes directly to affected visa applicants," said a spokesman of the U.S. embassy in New Delhi.

Most of such interviews fell between Dec. 15 and 26, with the U.S. State Department telling the high-skilled Indian professionals that their interviews were delayed after the implementation of the Trump administration's new social media vetting norms ensuring "U.S. national security or public safety."

"The Department of State conducts thorough vetting of all visa applicants, including an online presence review of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M and J non-immigrant classifications. Beginning December 15, we are expanding the online presence review to all specialty occupation temporary worker (H-1B) visa applicants and their dependents in the H-4 visa classification," the spokesman said.

"In every visa case, we will take the time necessary to ensure an applicant does not pose a risk to the safety and security of the United States, and that he or she has credibly established his or her eligibility for the visa sought, including that the applicant intends to engage in activities consistent with the terms of admission," the spokesman added. ■