India Engages US Over H-1B Visa Delays Amidst New Scrutiny & Policy Changes

• India's MEA formally raised concerns with the US regarding prolonged H-1B visa processing delays and appointment backlogs causing significant hardships for Indian nationals.
• The Indian government has received multiple representations from citizens facing visa-related problems, which have been flagged with US authorities in New Delhi and Washington DC.
• The US has expanded appointment scheduling capacity since December 15 to address the backlog, while India remains actively engaged for smoother processing.
• New US policies are under consideration, including online presence reviews for H-1B/H-4 applicants and proposed changes to wage protection rules by the US Department of Labor.
• A Department of Homeland Security proposal to prioritize higher-paid H-1B applicants is nearing approval, potentially limiting access for early-career professionals and disproportionately affecting Indian nationals.

Why It Matters: India is actively addressing H-1B visa delays with the US amidst new policy changes impacting Indian professionals.