H-1B Families Stranded Abroad as US Visa Delays Deepen
Thousands of Indian families living in the United States under H-1B visas are caught in a painful situation. Many of them travelled to India for short visits, expecting to return within weeks. Instead, they now find themselves stranded for months because of sudden delays in visa processing at US consulates across India.
This crisis began after the US State Department introduced stricter background screening rules for all H-1B workers and their H-4 dependent family members. The new monitoring system, which started on December 3, requires applicants to undergo online presence reviews to verify their identity and background before a visa can be issued.
Officials from the Trump Administration say these extra checks are necessary to strengthen national security and prevent misuse of visa programs. However, the implementation has been chaotic, leaving families confused, helpless, and stuck far from their homes and jobs in America.
Families Caught in Limbo
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan, has become one of the most outspoken critics of the new policy. She recently wrote a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling the situation “a serious issue” that is disrupting the lives of working professionals and their children.
According to Dingell, visa appointments that were already scheduled are being moved months ahead — sometimes without any notice. Many families planned their trips home carefully around their confirmed visa dates, only to discover their interviews were suddenly cancelled or rescheduled.
In one case Dingell shared, a family received a message about their cancellation just two days before their visa appointment. Their new date was nearly three months later. By then, they had already travelled for the interview, sold their temporary accommodations in India, and had no way to return to their lives in the US. Without valid visas, they were left stranded abroad.
The emotional strain has been especially hard on children. Dingell mentioned one heartbreaking case of an American-born child who might miss months of school because her family cannot return to the US. “Our children should not have to pay for these policy changes with their education.”
A Hard Holiday Season
Many H-1B families had planned their travel months in advance, hoping to spend the winter holidays in India before heading back to work in the US in January. Instead, they now face open-ended delays and growing expenses. Renting temporary homes, extending school leaves, and covering medical or insurance costs abroad have made an already stressful time worse.
For working professionals, the uncertainty is devastating. Some employers have been understanding, but others are unwilling to hold positions indefinitely. People fear losing their jobs, health insurance, and even housing in the US as the delays drag on.
Government Stands Firm
Despite the growing frustration, the US State Department has defended its decision. Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Fox News that the administration inherited what he described as an “unsustainable” visa system from the previous government. He argued that the new policies are part of an “America-first” approach meant to restore control and ensure safety.
Pigott also linked visa screening to broader border control measures, saying that visa security is essentially part of national security. “It’s not just about the southern border,” he explained.
Calls for Accountability
Lawmakers like Dingell continue to push for clearer answers. In her letter to the State Department, she requested a detailed explanation of how these new reviews are conducted, how long they will take, and what steps will be taken for people already affected. She stressed that families stuck abroad deserve transparency and predictable timelines.
Her call comes at a time when visa enforcement appears to be tightening. In 2025 alone, about 95,000 visas were revoked — including more than 8,000 belonging to international students. Those numbers have added to the sense of fear and insecurity among immigrants and temporary workers.
For the thousands of Indian-origin professionals and their families waiting anxiously in India, the toughest part is not knowing when — or if — they can return to their lives in the United States. Their homes, schools, and jobs are all on hold, and every passing week adds more emotional and financial strain.
What was meant to be a short vacation back home has turned into a nightmare. Parents worry about their children’s schooling; employers question their availability; and families remain stuck halfway between two worlds — belonging to both, yet unable to reach either.
As Washington stands firm on its security-first stance, the people caught in between continue to hope for empathy, action, and an end to this uncertainty.