Centre raises H-1B interview cancellation issue with U.S.
BILATERAL – INDIA-USA
27 DECEMBER 2025
- India said it had expressed its concern to the U.S. over the mass cancellation of scheduled H-1B visa interviews of Indian applicants and that it was “actively engaged with the U.S. side to minimise disruptions caused to our nationals”.
- The interviews of thousands of H-1B visa applicants scheduled in the middle of December 2025 have been abruptly postponed by several months to scrutinise their social media posts and online profiles.
- In September 2025, the U.S. government announced a dramatic increase in the H-1B visa application fee — requiring employers to pay $100,000 for new H-1B petitions.
- This is a huge jump from the usual $2,000–$5,000 range under normal USCIS fees.
- The fee is imposed via a presidential proclamation, applies only to new H-1B petitions.
- Indian IT professionals are among the largest beneficiaries of H-1B visas.
