If you are an H-1B or H-4 visa holder in India, the past few weeks may have felt like waiting for a train that never shows up. Social media checks, introduced on December 15, have turned travel plans into a guessing game.
Immigration experts say phones of visa aspirants have been ringing non-stop, with people asking if they can safely fly home for weddings, family emergencies.
The situation reportedly got messy in December 2025, when hundreds of visa appointments were cancelled. Most of them were pushed to March 2026 or later, leaving travellers in limbo.
According to a media reports, those with interviews scheduled for April are now unsure what to do. Should they pack their bags and take the chance, or sit tight and hope nothing else changes?
Even people who thought they had planned everything carefully now feel like they are playing a game of snakes and ladders. One wrong move, and they could be stuck for months.
Immigration experts have advised against taking risks. Travellers who cannot return to the US without a new visa should avoid flying, even in April, since appointments could be delayed again. They told a media house that anyone traveling must be ready for a long stay. The delays, they say, could feel like an endless holiday. Fun in theory, exhausting in reality. And no one knows when or if the rules might change again.
Some people hope for emergency visa slots, which US consulates occasionally open for urgent, unforeseen situations. But in India, experts observe, these slots are extremely rare. Almost everyone applies, but almost no one gets through.
Where family emergencies are concerned, it does not necessarily guarantee faster processing for returning to the U.S.
Visa officers are unlikely to prioritise these cases because the general feeling is there is no emergency requiring immediate return. There are additional employment risks. Losing a job while stranded in India can be particularly stressful, since a new employer would have to file a petition and pay the $100,000 H-1B fee.
For now, H-1B and H-4 visa holders are being advised to plan carefully, stay patient, and prepare for the possibility of extended stays.
Traveling is still possible, but it has become unpredictable. Many are now keeping their bags packed, passports ready, and snacks on hand, just in case the wait turns into an unexpected marathon.
Also Read: H-1B Visa Row: White House Says System Misused, Justifies Rule Change https://www.vibesofindia.com/h1-b-visa/
