India has formally raised concerns with the United States over delays and cancellations of H-1B visa appointments, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday, following complaints from affected Indian nationals.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the observations at the calendar year's (2025) last weekly media briefing.
He said the government received multiple complaints from citizens facing difficulties with scheduling or rescheduling US visa appointments.
India has raised the issue with US officials in New Delhi and Washington DC even as it's fact of the matter that these subjects fall under the sovereign jurisdiction of Washington.
“The Government of India has received multiple representations from Indian nationals facing delays and difficulties in scheduling or rescheduling US visa appointments.
"These delays have caused extended hardships for affected individuals and their families, including disruptions to education. The government remains actively engaged with the US side to address the issue and minimise the impact on Indian nationals," he said.
The US Embassy in India recently announced that it has started conducting online presence checks for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants as part of measures to prevent misuse of the program.
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The headline in London's 'The Guardian' sums up the paradox for Republicans and the US Presideent.
It says:
'Dragged down by an unpopular president, Republicans are bracing for a midterm trouncing'
“He came into office and, like a blitzkrieg, was violating laws and the constitution,” said Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota. “The American political process is slow-moving and so he was able to do things that were extraordinary.
“But this is a guy whose legacy may well be the political collapse of Republicans in this era. (as reported in 'The Guardian')
Another opinion ...
Wendy Schiller, a political scientist at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, said: “He (Trump) promised to secure the border but the deportations have gone too far. City after city, community after community has expressed frustration and dismay at the tactics.”
Among global players China and Russia have been major focused reasons. In the process; the RIC factor -- that's the triangle Russia-India-China also matters a lot.
China is a key geopolitical power and also a tech force. But what matters more is perhaps Beijing's debt diplomacy and of course assets such as critical minerals and currency reserves.
Through initiatives like "Made in China 2025" and the "China Standards 2035" plan, China has made significant gains in high-tech sectors.
It is also narrowing the AI gap with the United States, leading the world in AI patents, research output, and open-model activity.
Where does India stand ?
Rather one can ask ... what were the mistakes of PM Narendra Modi in the foreign policy front ?
India's Sickularism would love such questions. One quick refrain would be --
"Mr Modi's declaration of a "new normal" after the Pahalgam attack led to international worries over rapid escalation of the next conflict in South Asia. India's restrained handling of the Delhi blasts conspiracy (November 2025) eased some of those worries, but the broader issue remains: how will New Delhi respond to the next major attack, especially with Pakistan's political landscape increasingly shaped by the ultra-hawkish Field Marshal Asim Munir?"
( can you guess ... who seems to suggesting that Munir has upper hand... its Chennai's 'The Hindu' newspaper. -- We may say only 'Hindu' about that house is the name !! )
The paper goes further ....
"The 2024 regime-change protests in Bangladesh and the 2025 Gen-Z demonstrations in Nepal have created fragile transitional governments, reducing predictability in India's periphery.
With elections in both countries scheduled for early 2026, New Delhi must prepare to engage with new leadership that is not necessarily positively disposed to it."
And almost a verdict ---
"With Bangladesh in particular, the end of the year has seen relations at their lowest ebb yet. The elections in Myanmar, on December 28, will be held on the Junta's terms, despite New Delhi's best attempts at fostering talks with the deposed NUG members and to ask for the more humane treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi."
The Sickular counseling continues from the know-all club ... who are otherwise frustrated (by Moditva) in more ways than one.
"Several lessons from 2025 stand out clearly. India must recognise the limits of performative diplomacy - warm embraces, highly publicised summits and symbolic gestures such as awards and leaders driving together in the same car do not necessarily translate into tangible gains," says the article.
Performative aggression - threats to isolate or boycott countries only mean something if other countries join in. The government was sensible in shifting its projection of India as "Vishwaguru" (global teacher) during the G-20 year in 2023 to "Vishwamitra" (global friend).
But it must now avoid slipping into the narrative of a "Vishwa-victim", blaming all others - American sanctions, Chinese manoeuvring, Pakistan's machinations, or the "ingratitude" of neighbouring states - for its disappointments. "
In short ... take a pleasure by well articulated Modi-bashing.
Modi's foreign minister - Dr S Jaishankar
But there are other ways of analysing India's foreign policy ...
** India's trajectory in 2025 positions it as a pivotal player, shaping global economic and geopolitical landscapes through its sheer scale, economic dynamism.
There is also strategic assertiveness.
** The Team Modi has smartly diversified policies and trade.
Pacts with Australia, the UK, New Zealand and the European Union have strengthened the economic resilience.
There is a rest vis-a-vis the trilateral technology partnership between Australia, India and Canada.
India is moving up the ladder and now eyeing to be the Third largest economy. It's also surging exports in engineering, electronics, and pharma.
There is a Booming digital transactions, especially UPI and this shows massive technological adoption.
**
PM Modi’s long-term interest and 'success' will ultimately depend on whether the country can foster and sustain a growth model that is competitive, dynamic, sustainable, inclusive and fair.
Credit ought to be given to the Modi Govt (in office since 2014) for implementing policies that have modernised India and supported its growth.
New Delhi has made massive investments in the single market (including through de-monetisation and tax reform) and infrastructure.
Roads, electricity, education and sanitation have improved and also has the digital capacity.
ends
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