LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5690
ANSWERED ON- 27/03/2026
H1B VISA
5690. THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Union Government has taken serious note on the fact that large number of Indian aspirants have been suffering because of the stringent measures taken by USA to issue of H1B Visa, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the steps taken by the Union Government to take a strong and coordinated effort to find a permanent amicable solution to solve the H1B Visa issues; and
(c) whether the Government taken any steps regarding the unprecedented hardship faced by Indian students and workers in USA, Canada, UK and Middle East countries, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to c) The Government is aware of the H-1B visa-related challenges faced by Indian nationals. Visa-related policies and associated decisions are sovereign matters. The U.S. Government’s stated position is that every visa adjudication is a national security decision and that a U.S. visa is a privilege and not a right.
In December 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced vetting of the online presence of all H-1B applicants and their dependents (H-4) to determine their admissibility to the United States. Subsequently, the consular appointments of several H-1B and H-4 visa applicants scheduled in December 2025 were rescheduled to new dates in 2026, leading to a large number of the applicants remaining in India.
India believes that skilled talent mobility has long played a significant role in promoting technology advancement, innovation, economic growth, and wealth creation in both India and the United States. Stakeholders in both countries remain engaged for facilitating continued support for legal mobility.
The Government of India accords the highest priority to the safety, security and well-being of Indian nationals abroad. Issues faced by Indian students and workers in various countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and countries in the Middle East, are regularly taken up with the concerned governments. Indian nationals can approach Indian Missions and Posts through in-person visits, email, 24x7 emergency helplines, WhatsApp, grievance redressal portals such as MADAD, CPGRAMS and e-Migrate, and social media platforms. The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) is also utilized to provide assistance to Indian nationals in distress, including students and workers, and includes provision of legal assistance, where necessary.
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