India Raises H-1B Visa Appointment Delays with Trump Administration

New Delhi: India has taken up the issue of delays and difficulties in scheduling H-1B visa appointments with the United States, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Indian officials are actively engaging with their US counterparts to resolve the matter, even as visa-related issues fall under the sovereign domain of the issuing country.

Addressing a press briefing, Jaiswal said the Government of India has received several complaints from Indian nationals facing delays and challenges in securing or rescheduling visa appointments. “Yes, we are aware of the difficulties being faced by Indian citizens in obtaining visa appointments. While we understand that visa matters are a sovereign issue of any country, we have raised these concerns with US authorities, both in New Delhi and Washington, DC,” he said.

Expressing hope for an early resolution, the MEA spokesperson noted that prolonged delays in consular appointments and rescheduling have left many applicants stranded for extended periods. He added that these issues have caused significant hardship to families, affecting family life and children’s education.

Jaiswal also referred to a notification issued by the US government stating that from December 15, it has expanded its review process to include temporary H-1B visa applicants for specialty occupations, as well as dependents covered under the H-4 visa category. He clarified that this change applies globally across all countries.

“The Government of India continues to engage actively with the US side to address these concerns and to minimise the impact on Indian nationals,” the MEA spokesperson said.