A leading Indian American policy organization has advised the Trump administration to adopt a more balanced approach to expanded social media vetting for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants. The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) supports the US Department of State’s decision to extend online presence and social media checks to all H-1B and H-4 applicants, citing enhanced national security as a crucial factor.
However, FIIDS has raised concerns about the widespread cancellations and delays in visa appointments resulting from the implementation of the new policy, which came into effect on December 15. The organization highlighted that these disruptions are affecting US industries and leaving numerous high-skilled workers stranded abroad, particularly impacting Indian nationals.
The letter addressed to President Donald J. Trump emphasized that the current situation has led to significant challenges for essential workers and the US industry. It pointed out that the sudden appointment bottlenecks are disproportionately affecting Indian professionals, who constitute a substantial percentage of approvals for such visas.
Major technology companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft have already started feeling the repercussions of these delays. They have cautioned employees against international travel due to unpredictable delays that could hamper critical project contributions. FIIDS warned that prolonged disruptions could have far-reaching consequences on various high-impact fields, jeopardizing US economic competitiveness and innovation leadership.
The organization stressed that its concerns are not about reversing enhanced scrutiny but about preventing unnecessary disruptions. It urged the administration to maintain existing scheduled appointments without widespread cancellations and prioritize pre-interview vetting for applicants with confirmed slots. Additionally, FIIDS recommended setting clear limits on processing delays to alleviate hardships and ensure timely return for vetted professionals without compromising security objectives.
