The State Department unable to say when U.S. missions in India will reopen to stamp passports.
There is little hope for the early return of more than a thousand unstamped H-1B and other nonimmigrant visa holders stranded in India with no official word on the reopening of U.S. missions there.
“Our overseas missions will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time,†U.S. State Department told the American Bazaar in response to a query on the plight of such visa holders stuck in India because of the Covid lockdown.
“Each consular section is continuously reviewing its capacity to adjudicate visa applications,†a spokesperson of the State Department responded via email.
As the American Bazaar reported on Wednesday, more than 1,000 Indian nationals are awaiting their visa renewals, most of them H-1B holders. They cannot come back to the United States until their renewed visas are stamped on their passports.
Many of these individuals stuck in visa limbo have family emergencies back in the United States, such as pregnant spouses, sick family members and young children needing medical care.
They have urged the U.S. government to allow them to come back to the country on humanitarian grounds.
RELATED: More than 1,000 unstamped H-1B, other nonimmigrant visa holders stranded in India (May 19, 2020)
“We encourage applicants to consult with the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate in order to confirm the level of services currently offered,†the State Department spokesperson wrote.
“Although Department employees have been working remotely all along, consular resources and local government restrictions vary widely, and each consular section is continuously reviewing its capacity to adjudicate visa applications during this worldwide pandemic.â€
The United States Embassy in New Delhi and the country’s four missions in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad have been closed since March 16 because of covid-19.
Immigration experts and some of the stranded visa holders have pointed out that the United States government could potentially repatriate those stuck in India through one of the two provisions: “automatic visa revalidation†and a “humanitarian parole.â€
The former is mostly used by nonimmigrants to re-enter the United States after their visa expires, if they visit Canada, Mexico or territories close to the U.S. for a period of less than 30 days. Humanitarian parole is granted to nonimmigrants who have “urgent humanitarian reason.â€
Asked whether the Department would consider one of these two options, given the gravity of the situation for many of those stranded, the State Department spokesperson said it is the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The DHS has not responded to a request for comment.
Two visa holders who are currently in India and desperately trying to come back to the United States said they reached out to U.S. missions in Delhi and Mumbai but were “unable to secure an emergency appointment for an interview as the guidelines for these appointments only cover death and life-threatening illness.â€
Both Mili Khatter and Poorva Dixit went to see their ailing mothers, leaving behind their young children in the United States.
ALSO READ: With the economy in tailspin, H-1B visa holders living in fear (May 20, 2020)
Khatter, a mother of two kids, has a seven-year-old daughter with Type 1 diabetes. Dixit, who works for a San Francisco technology company, has two girls, ages six and three, in the United States. Both women lost their mothers.
“We request the [Department of State], to please consider the ‘reunification with a minor child’ also as a basis for scheduling an emergency appointment,†they said in a joint statement.
Another person who is seeking a humanitarian intervention is Dallas Zaheer Iqbal (name changed at his request). His wife gave birth to their first child at a Dallas area hospital on May 14. An H4 visa holder and stay-at-home spouse, who does not drive, she is struggling to take care of her new born, without any assistance.
Iqbal is currently waiting for his renewed visa after being placed in a category called “administrative processing,†which requires additional background and security checks that takes anywhere from four weeks to several months.
However, these aren’t the only issues plaguing these individuals waiting for the U.S. missions to reopen. While several of those awaiting their visas have family emergencies, most of them are worried about their job security and financial well-being at a time of great uncertainty.
RELATED: American Bazaar’s Covid-19 coverage
So far 26 people who are awaiting their visa renewals have lost their jobs. Only a fraction of the more than one thousand people currently in India are able to work remotely.
Some 85 percent of stranded visa holders are either homeowners, or have rental properties, meaning that despite job loss and the inability to work, most of them still have to make monthly payments without receiving a paycheck.
While the majority of them still have their jobs, the uncertainty of if or when that will change is always there for these H-1B visa holders.
“Although we anticipate every day for a speedy recovery from the pandemic, the rising case numbers depict a grim future,†said Rajiv Mehta, another H-1B visa holder who is currently stranded in India.
“We are okay to live with the SARS-CoV-2 but with our family, jobs, and education. We hope that the Department of State and the US missions also show empathy for cases beyond the ‘reunification’ classification. Such as work emergencies or completion of studies,†said Ajay Kumar, who works for a firm in Duluth, Georgia.
Of the more than 1,000 visa holders trying to get back to the U.S., 57 percent are working in the tech industry. A fifth of them are dependents on H4 visas.
The remaining H-1B visa holders include lawyers, healthcare workers, scientists, architects, students, and those employed in the financial sector.
47 Comments
Hi.. even I’m in the same situation as you all.. my husband is in US and I’m here with my 1 year old daughter. Wishing to be back with my husband. I don’t see any whatsapp group in this thread. If any please add me “kousi26@gmail.com†else shall we create one ?
Please create a whatsapp group for unstamped H1B visa category
And also H4 visa stamping for regular processing.
It’s November now and looks like US Consulate in India has resumed the processing of some visa categories. Can you please reach out to them again and understand the situation on when they are going to issue stamps to H1B holders? Also in the USA, the proclamation to ban H1B holders to enter the country was decided against and cancelled by the court recently.
I left to India in Mar 2020 to see my sick mom and got stuck in India. Already been staying in US from last 12 years, have home, paying mortgage. Have H1B renewed Approved Petition and got stuck in India only for stamping. Difficult situation.
You must have been eligible for dropbox option correct ?
I M also having approved visa but not getting slots to get stamped and return to USA.. how do I get the stamping done? Please help
Please share wats app group details for Fresh visa. As im waiting for the consulate to open for stamping.
Hi
My brother is in the USA and wants to come home in Indai and wants to continue working from home till this covid situation gets over as he is alone there and is facing anxiety and depression issues. Can anyone please tell how can he get his visa stamped in India in case he plans to travel India?
Thanks
It seems to me that a real issue is immigration but I have a problem with deportation of contributors of society. I would rather deport a person who was born here and sucks off the welfare system as if it was their career. They have an unreal amount of children who are being raised to think it’s ok to live like that. There are citizens who research the best states for welfare and abuse it.
Hi.. even I’m in the same situation as you all.. my husband is in US and I’m here with my 1 year old daughter. Wishing to be back with my husband. I don’t see any whatsapp group in this thread. If any please add me “kousi26@gmail.com” else shall we create one ?
Hi how to get added to the Whatsapp group related to visa renewals?
Is there anyone on O-3 visa who got a 221g during their interview?
Any date/ idea on when the US Embassies are going to open?
I was told that J1 VIsa research scholar are expempted…so waiting for the US Embassy to open.
Hi Rahul I am in same situation as you are. J1 research scholar waiting for consulate to reopen
Guys, I’ve created a telegram group, to discuss everything Visa related. We can share information,and help each other.
You can add me on telegram and I’ll add you to the group.
Telegram ID : TheDarkNight87
Plz reopen us embassy for F1 visa .. Its a huge matter of my daughter’s carrier ..
Same, I need to go back for my studies too.
Waiting for the consulate to reopen soon . Got married on 21 st Feb 2019 , cr1 application was in process was at the last stage of interview and this happened. Husband is in USA , facing emotional and mental hardship . Please request to resume the interview service by the consulates in India.
As of Jun2020 I am currently in US and want to travel India as soon as possible for a major surgery (cant do this surgery in US as I need a donor who is currently living in India and who cannot travel abroad). While coming back to US I need my H1b visa stamped since my current H1b is expiring in 6 months. I have a wife and toddler living in US, my employer doesn’t let me work from India at all. So PRAYING for consulate to open SOON…
So sorry to hear this, have you tried scheduling an emergency appointment under life threatening cause ? I read somewhere that they are fascilitating certain kind of emergency services.
I read so many comments where i felt i am in the same boat. I came to India in feb 2020 on valid I539 and unable to get valid H4 visa stamp before lockdown. Currently I am in India with my 2 US citizen kids and my husband is in US. Please include me in the whats app group if it has started. If anyone can help in anyway will be greatly appreciated.
My email add is knb1982@yahoo.com
Hello all., I came to india during the month of Feb., 2020 for H1b stamping. Yesterday,My employer( U.S University) gave me notice that non renewal of my Post doc job , due to lack of funding and said my employment willbe terminated effective 60 days from the date of letter i.e 19th june 2020. what does it mean ! Still I am in employment with the same employer on H1B visa upto 2 months! if US consulates in india reopens in july, is there any problem for stamping with the same employer ! Please advice me.
Hi, we are also stuck with family as we came in March. Our US paycheck can be stopped any moment. I have a rented house, car on loan, house hold stuff. Request to DHS to allow us with approved petition to go back to US. It’s a very horrible situation for us. Please help please help.
I’m also stranded in India since 6 months. At first, in December stuck due to “administrative processing†later by March 4th 2020 both my husband’s H1 B and my H4 are approved. On March 16th our passports status showed ready for pickup and then on March 18th by the time we went to pick them up the status changed to sent to post and now it shows no status for the passport numbers. I’m confused with all this bullshit. We are paying for a rented property in the US since 6 months. If any WhatsApp or telegram groups please share the details.
any one please share WhatsApp groups details. My wife and son struck in india from last 6 months. visa got approved but stamping is pending.
Hi lucky,
Were you able to get your passport? Did you try to reach out to consulate. I,m also in similar situation.
I am an American stuck in India for 3 months with my Husband. We are waiting for his Visa interview at the consulate and India is allowing repatriation flights for citizens AND THEIR SPOUSES! I dont understand why the embassy is not taking interviews on these cases and processing them to completion. It’s not fair!
I would like to get in what’s app group if any. I am Stranded with daughter in India waiting for h4 renewal and Husband is in USA. It’s high time now
We are in the boat .. please share the link if the what’s app group already created ..
I am also in the same boat. My biometrics for H4 renewal was completed on Feb 24th. And interview was scheduled on April 13th. My daughter Husband are in US. Becos of Lockdown it was cancelled. Please add me also in Whatsapp group if there is any.
Hi, I have created a whatsapp group for discussing about visa related information. For some reason I’m not able to provide the chat invite here. Please send me your number to my email id and I can add you to the group. Or I can even mail you the chat invite.
My email : kousi26@gmail.com
I would like to get added to whatsapp groups (if any) for further details and communication. Please share the details of whatsapp group.
Can somebody please provide whatsapp group ? I am on same boat. Desperately trying to go back.
I m also on same situation.
Please let me know for any updates
Please get me in what’s app group if any worried with same situation. Desperately waiting to get embassies reopen want to renew h4 of myself n daughter. Husband in USA
Hi Sayali,
I am in the same situation. Desperately waiting for embassy reopen to get my H4 visa stamping bdone. I am stranded in India with my 7 month old daughter, she is a US citizen and my husband is in US. Could you please let me know if you get any update regarding embassy or any whatsapp group to join. I would really appreciate your help.
Please share any WhatsApp group or if anybody comes to know about the consulate opening dates. My husband and two young kids are in US and I am here alone. I have approval notice but visa stamping is pending (drop box). Emergency slots or open but not regular ones.
I also got stranded in India as I came to India because of my mother’s demise. My two kids are in US and my younger one is just 5. My drop box appointment just got cancelled two days prior to the appointment. I am awaiting any positive news since then with my kids daily asking me when I will take the flight. It will be good if they provide any tentative date or allow people in my condition on humanitarian grounds.
+1 on the automatic visa validation at the port of entry. After getting an approval notice from USCIS why is there another stage called ‘stamping’. Why can’t they do this at the port of entry? Of course if there was something that should be background checked, they could send individuals back. Individuals can take this risk or wait until consulates open.
Hi, we are in the same situation. Could you guys please share any WhatsApp group details to join or if any updates on consulate opening dates.
Thanks
I have h1 b stamping done but stuck in india because of lock down. Trying to return usa through reparation flight. Will there be any issue for reentry. Its almost 5 months
no you wont have any issue, one of my coworker just returned from Mumbai via Air India flight and he was there for 4 months.
Thank you Feras Ismail for taking concern to post on this. This really helps making the government know that this is a big issue to consider. Parents stuck without kids should really be considered as they have approved petition and are stuck only for stamping. If anyone knows the telegram or whatsapp group, please do let me know on eragnow@gmail.com.
Your name explains your thought process B.S (Bullshit)
Stay there and work for you own country, you idiots. Do somehting for birth country mother idia. She gaves you birth and fed you up till you’re grown up and educated you also no? Shame, shame on you people so unthankful and selfish always thinking of own gain. Stay there, WORK!! Don’t come back, don’t want you fools here.
Then why are you using technology and products imported from other countries? If you hate the Indians working abroad doing stuff for another country, you should also stop buying imports, goods, services, education of any kind from anywhere outside your home country.
Listen you ignorant fuck, the world relies on everyone’s effort from everywhere in the world. National pride is important, but not keeping an open mind and dismissing all contributions from outside is borderline dumb. People will work wherever they want to. It’s not your right to dictate what people do with their lives.
Instead of showcasing hatred to the ones in the article who are separated from their loved ones, show some empathy and humanity instead. It is good for your soul to be helpful and kind during the pandemic when yet again everyone’s contributions are needed more than ever (regardless of nationality, race, religion or caste)
Abbey listen theri maa ki gaand mein haati ka lund, jai barat mahahahahahan. Vandy matarchut.