“Ban H-1B Visas Completely”: Nalin Haley Sparks Outrage Amid US Visa Delays for Indians

Nalin Haley, son of former United States ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, has publicly called for a complete halt to H-1B visas, sharply criticising both the programme and India’s response to delays in visa processing that have left many Indian professionals unable to return to their jobs in America.

Nalin reacted on social media to the ongoing backlog in US visa stamping, which has stranded hundreds of workers in India after visits home. Referring to H-1B holders, Nalin posted, Delaying visas is good, but not good enough. We need a complete H-1B visa ban. Nalin added, You can't be stranded in your own country, while resharing an official update by India’s External Affairs Ministry.

H-1B visa delays and impact on Indian professionals

Indian officials earlier highlighted that many skilled workers could not go back to the United States after travelling home for visa stamping. The External Affairs Ministry said, Several people have been stranded in India for quite some time due to their H-1B visa appointment delays. This has caused hardship for their families, pressing Washington to speed up the process for affected applicants.

Hundreds of H-1B visa holders reportedly flew to India for stamping appointments scheduled in January. On arrival, many discovered those dates had been postponed by long periods, with some slots moved as far as 2026, starting from March or April. Families, employers and workers now face extended uncertainty over work, income and residence in the United States.

H-1B visa criticism of Indian government and remittances

Responding to India’s decision to raise these delays with United States authorities, Nalin accused the Indian government of acting for economic reasons. Nalin wrote that, The Indian government is only complaining because they want their remittance money, arguing that New Delhi’s interest lay in income sent home by overseas workers rather than the personal strain on individuals.

Nalin has long positioned the H-1B visa as harmful to domestic workers in the United States. According to Nalin, many college friends are still jobless in the current American labour market. Nalin argued that US employers should focus on citizens first, stating, We should keep our kids first. It's been a year and a half, and not one of them (his friends) has a job, not one.

H-1B visa debate linked to naturalised citizens and foreign students

Beyond the H-1B visa debate, Nalin has also taken strong positions on immigration and citizenship. In November, Nalin said naturalised citizens should not be allowed to hold public office, claiming that growing up in the United States is essential for fully understanding the country, and suggesting that those born abroad might lack that insight when making public decisions.

During an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, Nalin extended this argument to education and security. Nalin said the United States should cut the number of foreign students at American universities, claiming, Some of them are spies, by the way. Nalin also rejected dual nationality, calling it the stupidest idea. Nalin added, People should have their loyalty to America first... You are either American, or you're not an American.

The latest demand for a total H-1B visa ban adds another layer to United States debates on immigration, jobs and national identity, while Indian officials continue to press Washington over delays that have disrupted the lives of skilled workers, their families and the cross-border business operations that depend on their timely return.