The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies USA (FIIDS) has urged the Trump Administration to preserve existing scheduled H-1B visa appointments and avoid blanket cancellations, recommending instead that authorities prioritize pre-interview vetting to ensure timely processing.

“We further suggest capping any post-interview administrative processing at one month to alleviate hardships, allowing vetted talent to return promptly and contribute to U.S. priorities without undermining security,” FIIDS said in a statement. “This balanced approach aligns with your Administration’s goals of robust immigration enforcement alongside a strong, innovation-driven economy fueled by skilled professionals.”

In a letter addressed to President Donald Trump, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, FIIDS acknowledged the U.S. Department of State’s expansion of online presence and social media vetting for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, effective December 15, 2025. The organization said the policy “represents a vital step in enhancing national security through thorough reviews of applicants’ digital footprints to identify potential risks.”

“As FIIDS, a leading Indian American policy and awareness organization, we strongly support this measure to prevent program abuse while preserving America’s access to critical global high-skilled talent,” the statement said. However, FIIDS noted that widespread cancellations and rescheduling of visa appointments, with many cases pushed from December 2025 to March 2026 or later, have caused significant disruption for essential workers and U.S. industries.

The U.S. Embassy in India said in a statement that beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to “ALL H-1B and H-4 applicants” as part of standard visa screening. The embassy added that this vetting is conducted globally for all applicants of all nationalities under the H-1B and H-4 visa categories.

“It is an effort to address the abuse of the H1-B program while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers,” the statement said, adding that “U.S. embassies and consulates continue to accept and process H-1B and H-4 nonimmigrant visa applications. We encourage applicants to apply as early as they can and anticipate additional processing time for these visa classifications.”

According to FIIDS Chief of Policy and Strategy Khanderao Kand, thousands of H-1B holders, primarily from India, which accounts for an estimated 70 to 75 percent of approvals, are currently stranded abroad following holiday travel or visa renewal efforts due to consular appointment cancellations.

Kand said technology leaders including Google, Apple, and Microsoft have issued advisories cautioning employees against international travel, citing unpredictable delays that could indefinitely disrupt participation in critical projects. He added that prolonged delays threaten work across artificial intelligence, data platforms, engineering, and other high-impact sectors, with broader implications for U.S. economic competitiveness, innovation leadership, and global standing.

FIIDS said it looks forward to swift action to address these challenges and remains ready to collaborate with the administration in support of effective, secure, and efficient immigration policies. 

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