Growing anxiety over an escalating US immigration crackdown is changing how foreign workers move in and out of the country.

A new national survey finds that 32 percent of H 1B visa holders have altered or cancelled travel plans in recent months, underscoring how policy shifts and stepped up enforcement are reshaping even routine decisions about vacations, family visits and business trips.

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Survey Finds Travel Anxiety Spreading Across Immigrant Groups

The 2025 Survey of Immigrants, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation in partnership with The New York Times, paints a stark picture of how tougher immigration enforcement has filtered into everyday life.

Nearly 27 percent of immigrants overall reported avoiding travel, either within the United States or abroad, to steer clear of potential encounters with immigration authorities.

The impact is most acute for people without legal status, but it is far from limited to them. According to the survey, 63 percent of undocumented immigrants said they had skipped trips because of immigration fears.

Yet even among those with legal status, apprehension is spreading. About 32 percent of H 1B visa holders reported cutting back on travel, as did 15 percent of naturalized US citizens, despite their full legal rights and passports.

Researchers say the findings suggest that a broad sense of vulnerability has taken hold across immigrant communities.

The survey captured concerns ranging from airport interactions with Customs and Border Protection officers to potential data sharing between domestic law enforcement and immigration agencies for routine bus, train or domestic air travel.

While the US has seen periodic waves of immigration-related unease in the past, advocates and analysts say the scale and breadth of the current behavior shift, especially among legal workers and US citizens, is unusual.

It reflects not just fear of deportation but the accumulated effect of unpredictable rule changes, new fees and heightened scrutiny at consulates and ports of entry.

H 1B Professionals: Legally Present, Increasingly Grounded

H 1B visa holders occupy a particular place in the US immigration system. Employed in so called specialty occupations that typically require at least a bachelor’s degree, they power sectors from cloud computing and artificial intelligence to biotechnology and finance.

Many are in their 20s and 30s, building careers and raising young families. Yet the survey shows that nearly one in three are now reconsidering something as basic as taking an overseas trip.

Indian nationals hold a dominant share of these visas, accounting for roughly 70 percent of H 1B approvals in recent years, according to federal data. That concentration magnifies the impact of policy shifts on India’s skilled diaspora.

Employers including major US and Indian technology firms have quietly signaled to staff that nonessential international travel carries new risks, particularly during periods of regulatory change or consular backlogs.

For many H 1B workers, the decision to stay put is less about fear of an outright denial at the border and more about the possibility of being stranded or delayed for months.

A short family visit or a business trip can suddenly turn into an open ended separation from spouses, children and jobs in the United States if a consulate postpones interviews, initiates additional background checks or demands extensive new documentation.

This climate has started to recalibrate personal milestones. Immigration lawyers report clients postponing weddings abroad, skipping funerals and mothballing long planned vacations because one family member is on an H 1B or H 4 dependent visa.

The survey’s 32 percent figure, they say, simply quantifies what they have seen anecdotally for months.

Policy Shifts Fuel a Climate of Uncertainty

The shift in travel behavior comes against the backdrop of a rapid succession of immigration measures rolled out in 2025.

While each policy is framed separately, together they have created what many describe as a climate of uncertainty that encourages caution among immigrants and their employers.

In July, the State Department ended remote and third country renewals for H 1B and H 4 visas, reversing a short lived program that had allowed workers to renew without leaving the United States.

Applicants are once again required to return to their home country for in person visa stamping, putting more pressure on consulates that already handle heavy H 1B volumes.

In September, President Donald Trump signed an order introducing a one time 100,000 dollar fee for new H 1B applications and certain reentry petitions, a move that drew criticism from business groups and foreign governments.

While the administration has insisted that existing workers will be protected, the lack of clarity around implementation has prompted many companies to advise foreign staff to avoid travel that could require fresh paperwork or revalidation.

Most recently, beginning in mid December, the State Department expanded social media screening for H 1B and H 4 applicants worldwide. Consular officers now conduct mandatory reviews of public posts, comments and geotags, supported by algorithmic tools designed to flag potential fraud or security risks.

Combined with increased biometric checks and notices citing unspecified “adverse information” in some employment based cases, these steps have left many workers feeling they are navigating a moving target.

Holiday Travel Season Collides With Enforcement Fears

The timing of these changes has compounded their impact. The Kaiser survey’s release coincides with the peak US holiday travel season, which stretches from late October through New Year’s Day, when airports and highways are typically crowded with people visiting relatives or taking winter breaks.

This year, however, immigration lawyers and community organizations report that many immigrant families are staying home. The survey indicates that concerns about increased checks and surveillance are especially pronounced around airports, where Transportation Security Administration officers screen passengers before flights. Reports that federal agencies have expanded data sharing arrangements, including access to some passenger data by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have added to the unease.

For H 1B holders, the holiday period often doubles as a practical moment to visit home countries and complete visa renewals. Yet the new requirements and consular backlogs are prompting many to forgo that opportunity. Some fear that embarking on a December trip could leave them stuck abroad well into 2026, jeopardizing mortgages, leases, children’s schooling and employment obligations.

Employers are responding in kind. Internal memos at several technology companies have urged foreign staff to avoid nonessential international travel over the holidays. Some firms have established rapid response teams to help employees caught in consular delays, but they also acknowledge there is little they can do if an interview is pushed back by months or if additional administrative processing is triggered.

Stranded Abroad and Careers on Hold

While many H 1B workers are choosing not to travel at all, others who did leave the United States this month have encountered the new environment firsthand. In India, home to the largest concentration of H 1B talent, consular offices abruptly cancelled or rescheduled visa appointments in mid December as the enhanced screening rules took effect.

Immigration attorneys in the United States and India report that hundreds, and possibly thousands, of Indian professionals are now stranded, unable to return to their jobs. In some cases, applicants who had interviews scheduled for late December saw their appointments pushed to March or even later in 2026. One high profile case involved an interview reportedly rescheduled into 2027, highlighting the scale of potential disruption.

For affected workers, the consequences are immediate and deeply personal. Many left spouses and children in the United States expecting to be gone for only a few weeks. Instead, they face months of separation, uncertainty about their employment status and rising financial strain. Employers must decide whether to keep positions open indefinitely, shift work to other locations or terminate contracts.

Legal experts note that, unlike some visitor visa categories, H 1B status is closely tied to continuous employment. Lengthy absences can trigger compliance questions, and prolonged delays may push workers beyond allowable stays or grace periods. As a result, a travel decision that once involved little more than checking airfare prices and school calendars has become a high stakes calculation.

Corporations that depend heavily on H 1B talent are scrambling to adapt. Technology and consulting firms with large foreign workforces say they are mapping out critical roles and creating contingency plans if key staff members become stuck abroad or face unexpected denials or delays.

Some companies have accelerated efforts to relocate high value projects to hubs outside the United States, such as Canada or European Union member states, where immigration pathways for skilled workers are seen as more predictable. Others are investing in more robust in house immigration teams, supplementing the work of external law firms that are fielding daily calls from anxious employees and managers.

Immigration lawyers, meanwhile, are urging H 1B holders to take what they describe as “defensive” steps. These include maintaining meticulous documentation of employment history and travel, avoiding last minute trip planning, and building in substantial buffer time for any travel that might require visa stamping. Many practitioners now advise clients that if a job ends unexpectedly, they should consider departing the United States sooner rather than later to avoid receiving a formal removal notice that could carry long term consequences.

Advocacy organizations are pressing for clearer and more consistent guidance from federal agencies. They argue that the current patchwork of new fees, screening rules and enforcement practices is eroding confidence in the US as a destination for global talent, even as many workers still say they would choose the country again if they could revisit their migration decision.

Balancing Opportunity With Risk in the New Era

Despite the rising apprehension, the United States continues to exert a powerful pull on skilled workers abroad. The survey underlying the latest findings notes that most immigrants, including many on temporary work visas, would still opt to move to the US if given the chance to make the decision again. For H 1B holders, the prospect of career advancement, higher earnings and access to cutting edge industries remains compelling.

At the same time, the data shows that opportunity now coexists with a heightened sense of precariousness. One national poll of Indian professionals on work visas in the US this year found that 16 percent either had personally received or knew someone who had received a Notice to Appear in immigration court within weeks of a layoff, compressing the window to find a new job. Another survey indicated that nearly half of Indian workers on H 1B or similar visas would return home if forced to leave the United States.

These pressures are prompting some families to reframe their long term plans. Financial advisers report clients diversifying investments and housing decisions in case a sudden rule change or job loss requires an abrupt relocation. Others are exploring alternative destinations, from Canada to the Middle East, that offer more permanent residency pathways for skilled professionals.

For now, though, the immediate and measurable effect of the current crackdown is visible in airports and highways that are missing a segment of travelers. The 32 percent of H 1B visa holders who say they have changed or cancelled trips represent a quiet but meaningful shift: a population that once moved fluidly across borders now increasingly chooses to stay put, calculating that the safest journey is often the one not taken.

FAQ

Q1. What does the 32 percent figure for H 1B visa holders actually represent?
It reflects the share of H 1B workers in the Kaiser Family Foundation and New York Times survey who said they had avoided or changed travel plans, either within the US or internationally, to reduce the risk of problems with immigration authorities.

Q2. Are these changes affecting only undocumented immigrants?
No. While undocumented immigrants reported the highest levels of travel avoidance, the survey shows that legal residents, including H 1B holders and even naturalized US citizens, are also adjusting their behavior because of enforcement concerns.

Q3. Why are H 1B visa holders especially cautious about international travel right now?
Recent policy shifts have made it riskier to leave the country, including the end of remote renewals and tougher screening at US consulates. Many fear being stranded abroad if interviews are delayed or if extra checks are triggered.

Q4. How have recent US policy changes contributed to this atmosphere of fear?
New rules include a large fee for some H 1B applications, expanded social media vetting and increased biometric checks. Taken together, they have created a perception that even small missteps or inconsistencies could lead to serious consequences.

Q5. Are certain nationalities more affected than others?
Indian professionals are heavily affected because they hold a majority of H 1B visas and many must travel to Indian consulates for renewals. Delays and cancellations there can have an outsized impact on Indian families and employers.

Q6. What kinds of trips are H 1B workers most likely to cancel?
Lawyers and advocates say people are most often cancelling discretionary trips, such as vacations, weddings or family visits abroad, especially if those journeys would require new visa stamping or revalidation.

Q7. How are companies that depend on H 1B workers responding?
Many large employers are advising foreign staff to avoid nonessential travel, expanding legal support and in some cases shifting work to other countries to hedge against future disruptions in US immigration policy.

Q8. Does avoiding travel guarantee that H 1B holders will not face immigration problems?
No. Staying put can reduce exposure to certain risks such as consular delays, but workers remain subject to changing rules around employment, status maintenance and enforcement inside the United States.

Q9. Are there practical steps H 1B visa holders can take if they must travel?
Experts recommend planning far in advance, keeping thorough documentation of employment and status, allowing significant extra time for possible delays, and consulting immigration counsel before booking critical trips.

Q10. Is the US still seen as an attractive destination for skilled workers despite the crackdown?
Yes, many survey respondents say they would still choose the US for its opportunities. However, the rising levels of anxiety and disrupted travel suggest that confidence in the stability and predictability of the system has eroded.