New Delhi. A new concern has emerged for H-1B and H-4 visa holders working in America. Amidst the postponement of H-1B visa interviews in India, many people have received emails from the US Embassy, informing them that their visas have been prudentially revoked. This step has come at a time when America has announced to tighten social media checks of visa applicants.
This decision has particularly upset Indian professionals, as this cancellation is not permanent, but may make the visa process more difficult in the future. In many cases, visas of people whose criminal convictions have not been proven have also been affected.
What is prudential visa revocation?
Prudential visa revocation means temporary cancellation of a visa as a precaution. The US State Department does this when it feels that further investigation may be needed in the case of a visa holder. This decision is not considered a permanent visa rejection. This does not mean that the person has become illegal in the US. If a person is present in America, his legal status remains intact and he can stay there till the validity of his visa expires.
Which people are being most affected?
According to immigration lawyer Emily Neumann, such cancellations have increased in cases of H-1B and H-4 visa holders in recent times. There are many cases where the applicant had earlier contacted the law enforcement agencies in some case, but no conviction or conviction resulted. He said that many incidents had already been reported at the time of old visa stamp and had also been cleared then. Despite this, he is now being brought under investigation again.
What will be the effect of living in America?
The biggest point of Prudential revocation is that it does not affect the legal stay of the person living in America. He can work and live under his existing visa status. However, the problem arises when the person goes out of America. Once he goes out, he cannot re-enter America on the same visa, even if the visa has not expired.
What will happen at the next visa appointment
In such cases, the entire case will be re-examined during the next visa appointment. This means that questions can be asked again on the issue which was cleared earlier. Emily Newman wrote on the social media platform X that it is difficult to understand how reopening previously investigated cases is a good use of government resources.
New step related to social media investigation
This entire matter has come to light at a time when the US State Department has announced to start investigating the social media profiles of H-1B applicants and their families. Earlier this test was applied only on student visa holders.
The US State Department says that visa screening is an ongoing process and can be reviewed at any time if needed.
Problems increased due to postponement of interviews in India
The situation has become more complicated due to the postponement of H-1B visa interviews in India. Those who had to come for the interview, now have to wait for the new date. This can have a direct impact on those people who had to come to India and get visa stamping done and then return to America.
Why are Indian professionals worried?
Thousands of Indians working in IT, healthcare and engineering sectors are in America on H-1B visa. In such a situation, uncertainty has increased due to sudden cancellation of visa as a precautionary measure. People fear that in the future, visa renewal and stamping may become a more stringent and lengthy process than before.
