US Immigration and Visa Updates: Mixed Signals for NRIs

0
6

US Visa Bulletin December 2025: EB-5 Green Cards Advance for Indians: The latest US Visa Bulletin shows modest progress for Indian EB-5 investors in the “unreserved” category (Final Action Date moves to March 15, 2015), while set-aside streams (rural, high-unemployment, infrastructure) remain current with no backlog. However, employment-based Dates for Filing stay unchanged, signaling ongoing waits for many. This is crucial for Indian investors and families abroad pursuing permanent residency.

The year 2025 is turning out to be one of the most unpredictable periods for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Indian professionals on H-1B, students, and high-net-worth families chasing the American Dream. While some green-card categories are moving faster than ever, work-visa approvals are hitting historic lows and new vetting rules are creating widespread anxiety.

(source: business-standard.com)

1. US EB-5 Green Card: Rare Good News for Indian InvestorsFor the first time in years, Indian EB-5 applicants are seeing forward movement:
  • Final Action Date (Unreserved category) advanced to 15 March 2015 in the December 2025 Visa Bulletin
  • All EB-5 “Set-Aside” categories (Rural, High-Unemployment, Infrastructure) remain CURRENT for Indians – meaning zero backlog if you invest in these projects
  • Over 1,200 Indian families expected to receive green cards in FY2026 under the reformed EB-5 program (Reform and Integrity Act 2022)

US Expands Social Media Vetting for H-1B Visas: Starting December 15, 2025, all H-1B applicants and dependents from India will face mandatory social media reviews, potentially delaying approvals. This affects thousands of Indian IT professionals renewing or applying for work visas.

2. H-1B Visa Crisis: Lowest Approval Rates in a DecadeThe picture for skilled workers is starkly different:
  • H-1B approval rates for Indian IT majors (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL) dropped to ~63% in FY2025 – the lowest ever recorded
  • More than 85,000 H-1B stamping appointments mysteriously cancelled across India in Nov–Dec 2025
  • From 15 December 2025, mandatory social-media screening introduced for ALL H-1B applicants and dependents from India
  • USCIS issued new RFE (Request for Evidence) templates targeting “Level-1 wages” and “specialized occupation” criteria
#H1B #IndianIT #USVisa #H1BChaos #StudyVisa Changes in 2025 Impact Indian Students Abroad: Key destinations like the UK, Canada, Australia, and the US tightened rules this year, including reduced post-study work permits (e.g., UK’s switch to two-year cap), limits on dependents, and stricter approval criteria. Indian students (over 1.3 million abroad) should check updates for 2026 planning.

3. Student Visa Crackdown Across Top Destinations2025 has been brutal for Indian students planning to study abroad:

  • United Kingdom: Graduate Route (post-study work) reduced from 3 years to 2 years; dependents banned for most courses starting Jan 2025 
  • Canada: Study permit cap continues; two-year restriction on new PGWP for college graduates 
  • Australia: Genuine Student requirement + increased financial proof (AUD 29,710) 
  • USA: F-1 visa interview wait times in India crossed 450 days in major cities; higher scrutiny on-site verification of SEVIS records

4. Golden Visa Alternatives Gaining Traction Among NRIs With US doors partially closing, wealthy Indians are fast-tracking Plan B residency:

  • Portugal Golden Visa: €500,000 fund route still open (processing ~8–12 months) 
  • Greece Golden Visa: Threshold increased to €800,000 in Athens/Thessaloniki but €400,000 island projects still available 
  • UAE Golden Visa: 10-year residency with AED 2 million property or business investment – processing under 30 days 
  • Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H): New Silver tier at ~₹1.2 crore gaining huge interest from Indian retirees and digital nomads

5. OCI & Renunciation Numbers Hit Record HighThe uncertainty is showing in official data:

  • Over 180,000 Indians renounced citizenship in 2024–25 (highest in five years) 
  • OCI card applications surged 42% YoY as families hedge with “forever visa-free” access to India 
  • Ministry of External Affairs opened four new OCI centres abroad in 2025 to clear backlog

6. India’s Response: Mobility Push and Bilateral TalksExternal Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar repeatedly called 2025 the year of “Talent Mobility”.

Key developments:

  • Third Modi–Trump call (11 Dec 2025) focused on skilled-worker visas and tariff exemptions 
  • India negotiating Totalisation Agreement with USA (to protect social-security contributions of Indian workers) 
  • New “Fast-Track Immigration” lanes for OCI card holders rolled out at 12 Indian airports

Final Verdict: Should NRIs Stay or Return?2025 is truly the year of mixed signals:Stay & Fight if:
→ You are already in the US on H-1B with an approved I-140
→ Your EB-5 I-526 is approved or in Set-Aside category
→ Your employer supports premium processing and extensionsConsider Plan B if:
→ You are on initial H-1B with a service-based Indian IT employer
→ Waiting for PD to become current in EB-2/EB-3 (still 12–15 years)
→ Planning to bring aging parents (10+ year green-card wait)India’s own start-up and AI boom (Microsoft $17.5B, Amazon $35B, Google $15B investments announced in last 30 days) is making “reverse migration” a realistic and attractive option for many.Stay updated.

Stay calm Plan strategically.

Bookmark this page – we update it every month with the latest visa bulletin movements and policy changes affecting global Indians.

Share this article with your NRI network!


#NRI #IndianDiaspora #USVisa2025 #H1B #EB5 #GoldenVisa #OCI

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.