A single Reddit post from a stranded Indian H-1B visa holder has gone viral as America’s visa new and strict processing system has left hundreds stuck in India with no way to return to their jobs in the US. American pollster and political commentator Mark Mitchell weighed in on X, describing how fragile the H1-B programme can be and how easily it can be shut down. In a post on X, he said, “Just one new little interview requirement caused utter chaos in Chennai for processing H1-B” and added, “This program can be BROUGHT TO ITS KNEES with very little effort I suspect.” His comments came as frustration mounted because of an alarming number of cancelled visa appointments across India. The US State Department has scrapped most December slots for H-1B holders and pushed them as far ahead as March 2026. The disruption has left skilled workers, many of whom travelled home for the holidays, unable to return to the US without visa stamping and proper formalities.The crunch is tied to a new requirement that consular officers review the social media accounts of every H-1B applicant from December 15. Officials in high-volume centres such as Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad have been told to sharply cut daily appointment numbers to accommodate the extra vetting. Lawyers say even they have no clarity on how long the delays will last.With thousands now stranded, one Redditor appealed to Indians who are still in the US to voluntarily cancel their January and February visa stamping appointments in India to free up earlier dates for those stuck abroad. The post went viral, with many users saying they had already given up their slots in hopes of helping others. For those already in India, the situation is dire. Many fear losing their jobs because they cannot re-enter the United States without an updated stamp. Some employers allow remote work from India, but others do not. Immigration lawyers are warning H-1B holders who are still in America to avoid travelling home, since there is no guarantee they will be able to return for months or even years due to the unpredictability of the Trump administration.
