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Sudden visa revocations, enhanced digital scrutiny, and sharply increased costs signal a more restrictive environment for foreign professionals seeking to work in the United States, prompting renewed debate over fairness, transparency, and due process in immigration enforcement
PRAVASISAMWAD.COM
An unexpected wave of US visa revocations has left several H-1B visa holders anxious and stranded, highlighting growing uncertainty around America’s immigration policies. In a recent case shared widely on social media, an Indian professional recounted the distress of having their valid H-1B visa abruptly revoked by the US Department of State while they were outside the country due to a family emergency.
According to the account, the individual had travelled to India on November 2 to attend to their father’s serious health condition and had planned to return to the United States on December 23. However, on December 15, they received an official communication informing them that their visa had been terminated. The notice stated that the individual would no longer be permitted to travel on the existing visa and would need to submit a fresh application to re-enter the US.
The email, reportedly issued by the US Consulate General in Kolkata and shared by a social media page highlighting NRI concerns, cited that “subsequent to visa issuance, information has come to light indicating that you may be ineligible for your visa.”
The affected visa holder claimed they had no criminal history, including no DUI-related charges, and expressed shock that the revocation occurred during international travel without prior warning
These reported revocations come at a time when the US has intensified scrutiny of visa applicants through expanded vetting measures. A key recent change requires applicants to provide access to their social media accounts and keep their profiles in public mode. US immigration authorities now review online activity as part of the visa adjudication process to assess potential national security or public safety risks. Defending the policy, the US State Department has reiterated that “every visa adjudication is a national security decision.”
The developments have added to broader concerns within the Indian diaspora, particularly H-1B professionals, who already face long processing delays and policy uncertainty. Anxiety has further intensified following reports that former US President Donald Trump announced a one-time fee of $100,000 on new H-1B visas in September. Trump has repeatedly argued that the H-1B programme is misused by companies to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign talent. The US currently issues 85,000 H-1B visas annually, with Indian nationals receiving the largest share.
