Thousands of Indians with H-1B visas are stranded in India. They traveled home for visa renewal but now face delays lasting six months or more. The US consulates cancelled many visa appointments after starting social media checks on December 15. "People who mock the concept of being stranded, have no idea what is going thru. They have their homes, their jobs, kids school and their entire lives back in US, what was supposed to be a 2 week trip is now stretching to 3-4 months and maybe more, god knows, how long. It is brutal," said Indian-origin CEO Vijay Thirumalai. The consulates reduced daily visa slots, pushing December appointments to after March and January dates to November. Those still in the US can delay travel, but those in India are stuck without clear timelines. This situation sparked harsh comments on social media mocking Indians stranded in their own country. Thirumalai called this mocking "brutal" and said he understands the hardship. He advised H-1B visa holders to try to obtain a Green Card as immigration rules may tighten further due to hostile political talk and job losses from AI. "Do all you can to get yourself a GC. Don't listen to folks egging you to get to India, you have worked hard so far... Invest 4-5 more years, get a GC + passport to build the optionality for you & you have the best of all worlds," he said. Thirumalai warned that economic and geopolitical problems will only get worse, especially with a bad government and hostile neighbours in India. He urged caution for Indians stuck in this visa quagmire.