Imagine packing your bags, and ready to move to the US for a promising job only to find that the visa system is coming in the way.
That’s the reality for many Indian H-1B holders now stuck at home, thanks to sudden delays in visa appointments.
Let’s not be deluded into thinking that Americans are wringing their hands over the situation. Going by reports, they don’t even care.
Immigration policy expert Rosemary Jenks called it ironic that people are expected to sympathise with Indians not able to punch their tickets to the US. But companies are moving on, hiring locals instead.
Sharing data with a national daily, Jenks said that Indians comprise about 70% of H-1Bs. Many are now stuck in India while their visas take longer.
Jenks was quoted as saying the narrative of them being stranded is overblown.
Social media vetting introduced by the Donald Trump administration is taking longer, she explained, to make sure newcomers aren’t planning anything harmful or trying to mess with the system.
“Nobody is feeling sorry for them here because, first of all, some of their employers apparently are deciding that it’s too much trouble to wait for them and keep the jobs open for them and are potentially hiring Americans to do those jobs, we would hope,” Jenks was quoted as saying.
Companies are instead hiring Americans which, Jenks believes, is a positive development.
Jenks suggested that now might be the perfect time to seriously consider a 10-year moratorium on all immigration.
She also said that the Indian government has raised the issue of visa delays with the US, but appointments are now being pushed to late 2026 and even 2027.
Jenks added dryly that the extended social media vetting left applicants in limbo while the US ensures they’re not planning to harm anyone or disrupt the system.
Jenks described the measures as perfectly reasonable and rational. She implied that while the stranded H-1B holders might feel unlucky, the American labour market adjusts, favouring domestic hires. It won’t shed a tear for what is happening on the other side of the globe.
Also Read: US Overhauls H-1B Visa System To Favour Higher-Paid, Skilled Workers https://www.vibesofindia.com/us-overhauls-h-1b-visa-system-to-favour-higher-paid-skilled-workers/
