Delhi, 26 December (H.S.): India on Friday said it has flagged its concerns to the United States over the cancellation of pre-scheduled H-1B visa interviews affecting a large number of Indian applicants, adding that both sides are engaged on the issue.

The interviews of thousands of H-1B visa applicants in India, which were scheduled from the middle of this month, have been abruptly postponed by several months. The postponements are reportedly linked to additional scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity and online profiles.

According to sources, several applicants whose visa interviews were scheduled last week received emails from US immigration authorities informing them that their appointments have been deferred, in some cases until as late as May next year.

Officials said the government is in touch with the US side to seek clarity and resolution, as the postponements have caused uncertainty for applicants and employers relying on timely visa processing.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar