'Return To The US Or Lose Your Job': H-1B Workers Stuck In India Face Ultimatum

New Delhi: Thousands of Indian professionals working in America are going through a lot of trouble these days. Many of those who work on H-1B visas had come to India to renew their visas. But they are stuck here due to a huge delay in the visa stamping process.

Now the situation has become such that neither are they able to return to America nor are they able to live peacefully in India. On one hand there is fear of losing a job; on the other hand, new problems related to salary cuts and taxes have arisen.

How did the delay in visa stamping begin?

From December 2025, America added a new step to the visa process. Now the social media accounts of the applicants are also being checked. After this change, the pace of visa appointments slowed down.

For those who were to go for stamping in late December or early January, their dates were pushed back to March and April. The result was that thousands of Indian professionals got stuck in India.

Is your job also in danger?

Experts related to immigration say that this delay is having a direct impact on people's jobs, especially those employees who work in startups or small companies.

Many companies have clearly said that as soon as the paid leave is over, the employees will have to return to America; otherwise, they may have to lose their jobs. Out of fear, some people are now taking advice from lawyers so that they can somehow avoid termination.

What is the attitude of the companies?

Sukanya Raman, an expert in legal matters, says that big companies are trying to get quick appointments for their employees, but small companies neither have that many resources nor the legal team.

For this reason, some companies are sending employees on leave without salary, while some are pressuring them to resign.

How has this delay affected families?

The impact of visa blockage is not limited to jobs only, but families are also seen breaking apart. In many cases, the spouse is in America and the visa holder is stuck in India. Somewhere the children are in America and the parents are in India.

Such people are continuously paying house rent, car installments, and other expenses in America, while their earnings have either stopped or have reduced significantly.

What is the way forward?

At present, H-1B workers are just waiting to get an appointment soon and can return to America. Unless this happens, thousands of Indian professionals will remain trapped amidst uncertainty, stress, and economic pressure.