Weddings Postponed, Families Separated Amid US Travel Warnings & H-1B Rules

Donald Trump will complete one year as President of the United States on January 20. Soon after assuming office, his administration began tightening immigration rules. Under the ‘America First’ policy, even people who have lived in the US for years and contributed to its economy are now facing difficulties.

A fresh example of this emerged in December, when the US government made social media vetting mandatory to prevent bogus individuals from entering the country. Initially applied to student and visitor visas, the rule was extended to H-1B and H-4 visa categories from December 15. As a result, many Indians who travelled to their homeland are now uncertain whether they will be able to return to the US. Gujaratis are also among those affected. Several families are facing disruption, with weddings postponed and careers put on hold.

Divya Bhaskar spoke to immigration experts Parthesh Thakkar and Bhavin Thakkar to understand the situation arising from these new rules.

How have the new rules created problems ?

Under the revised process, if an H-1B visa holder travels to India and needs a visa renewal or stamping, their appointment can be cancelled due to mandatory social media checks. Without a valid visa stamp, they cannot re-enter the US.

If their employer permits remote work for four to six months, the H-1B status may remain valid. However, if work from home is not allowed, the individual risks losing their job. In such cases, the loss of employment must be reported to US authorities. If a new job is not secured within 90 days, the H-1B status lapses.

Case Study 1: Family at risk of separation

A consultant, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared the case of Raj Shah (name changed). Raj was working in the US on an H-1B visa, while his wife and two sons live there. Raj travelled to India, where his visa appointment was cancelled and rescheduled for June 2026.

Raj informed his employer and sought permission to work remotely, but the company refused to allow work from home for six months. If Raj cannot continue working, he risks losing his H-1B status. Consequently, his wife’s dependent status would also be affected, forcing her to return to India.

One of their sons travelled with Raj to India, while the other was born in the US. This leaves a situation where only the younger child can legally stay in the US, while the rest of the family may have to return to India.

This type of email is sent by America

Case Study 2: Wedding cancelled due to visa delays

Another case involves Nisarg and Niharika (names changed), both employed by a reputed US company, earning around USD 100,000 each. Their wedding was scheduled for January. Their H-1B visas were selected in January 2024, but passport stamping was still pending.

Niharika travelled to India on December 7 for wedding preparations. Nisarg was due to arrive on December 12. However, on December 9, both received emails informing them that their visa appointments had been cancelled and rescheduled for June 2026.

As a result, Niharika cannot return to the US. If Nisarg travels to India, he too would be unable to go back. Nisarg cancelled his flight, and the couple postponed their wedding. If Niharika’s employer does not allow remote work, she may lose her H-1B status.

Having come to power for the second time, Trump has adopted the America First policy

Understanding the H-1B Visa process

Immigration expert Parthesh Thakkar explained that social media vetting was already mandatory for student and visitor visas and has now been extended to H-1B visas.

Typically, individuals enter the US on an F-1 student visa, complete Optional Practical Training (OPT), and later obtain an H-1B visa through selection. Many live in the US for 10 to 20 years, renewing passports at the Indian Embassy in America. However, if they travel outside the US, a valid visa stamp is mandatory for re-entry. For this, an appointment must be taken at a US embassy in the individual’s home country.

Appointments cancelled nationwide

December is a popular travel period, as US workers often have two to four weeks of holiday. Many plan trips months in advance, booking tickets and visa appointments as early as March.

According to Parthesh Thakkar, around 70,000 Indians on H-1B visas had booked appointments across cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. With the social media rule taking effect from December 15, all these appointments were cancelled simultaneously. Applicants received emails stating that there was insufficient time to complete social media vetting and that new dates would be issued, often four to six months later.

Contacting the American Consulate is also prohibited

Advisory against International travel

Immigration lawyers in the US are now advising visa holders who require stamping to avoid travelling outside the country. Experts recommend not leaving the US for the next two years, as sudden policy changes could cause further complications.

Indians most affected

Immigration expert Bhavin Thakkar noted that employers are often unwilling to allow staff to work from India. Many roles do not permit remote work, and companies are unlikely to wait six months for employees to return. As Indians form the largest group of H-1B visa holders, followed by Chinese nationals, they are facing the greatest impact from these changes.