US cancels 85,000 visas, appointment dates for Indian applicants postponed; State Department’s warning
The State Department says that twice as many visas have been cancelled this year compared to last year.
New Delhi: The US State Department announced on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, that 85,000 visas have been revoked since January after stricter immigration rules were implemented, citing assault and theft incidents as the reason. The State Department said that individuals involved in such crimes pose a direct threat to American citizens.
‘It Will Continue’
The State Department shared this information through a post on the social media platform X. The post read, “85,000 visas have been revoked since January. President Doland Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are not going to stop this; it will continue.” A photo of Doland Trump with the slogan “Make America Safe Again” was also shared on the post. This post indicates that this visa action is a central part of the Trump administration’s security agenda.
More Than 8,000 Student Visas Cancelled
According to CNN, the US State Department stated that more than 8,000 student visas have been cancelled. The State Department says that twice as many visas have been cancelled this year compared to last year. The ministry also stated that most visas were cancelled due to incidents of driving under the influence, assault, and theft, as individuals involved in such incidents pose a direct threat to American citizens.
Reasons Behind Cancellation Of So Many Visas
There may be several other reasons behind the cancellation of such a large number of visas, which the Trump administration has previously mentioned, including overstaying visa validity, criminal activities, and supporting terrorism.
The CNN report also stated that the Trump administration is targeting students who are involved in protests regarding Gaza and who are accused of being anti-Semitic and supporting extremist groups.
Appointment Dates For India(BHARAT)n Applicants Postponed
The US has also postponed appointment dates for India(BHARAT)n applicants for H1-B visas. The US Embassy in India(BHARAT) posted on X that if an appointment date has been postponed to 2026, applicants should come to the consulate on the new date instead of the original one for their interview.
ATTENTION VISA APPLICANTS – If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India(BHARAT) looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date. Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied…
— U.S. Embassy India(BHARAT) (@USAndIndia(BHARAT)) December 9, 2025
The US has implemented a new rule for H1-B and H-4 visas, requiring that all applicants’ social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Snapchat, will now be checked. This process is starting on December 15, which has caused applicants’ appointment dates to be pushed back by 3-4 months.
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