In an unannounced late-night post on 28 November, United States President Donald Trump vowed to impose a "permanent pause" on immigration from unspecified "Third World Countries"—language that has triggered immediate concern among Indian mobility professionals. While India was not explicitly named, lawyers point out that the administration’s June 2025 travel-ban list already covers 19 countries and could easily be expanded.
The White House offered no details on which nations fall under the catch-all term or how existing visas will be treated, but the president ordered United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to “re-examine every green card for every alien from every country of concern.” Immigration attorneys in New Delhi expect a surge in Requests for Evidence and additional security screening for Indians across H-1B, L-1 and EB categories, citing historical precedence from the 2017 travel-ban era.
![Trump’s ‘Permanent Pause’ on Immigration From ‘Third-World Countries’ Could Snare Indian Nationals]()
Indian IT and consulting giants—who together hold more than 180,000 H-1B approvals—face two immediate risks. First, employees currently in the US but planning home-leave trips may be stranded if renewal visas are put on hold. Second, ongoing green-card adjudications could be paused indefinitely, heightening attrition to competing destinations such as Canada. Corporate legal teams are already advising onshore staff to postpone non-essential travel until DHS publishes formal guidance.
Family-based immigration streams also hang in the balance. Spouses and children awaiting consular processing in India may see interviews cancelled with little notice, prolonging separations. Education agents fear that a climate of uncertainty could dent spring-2026 graduate-intake numbers, a cohort already squeezed by a record 74 percent Canadian study-permit refusal rate this year.
Experts note that the proclamation will almost certainly face court challenges, and Congress could intervene if key sectors complain of talent shortages. Nevertheless, the announcement—couched in national-security terms after a Washington, DC shooting—adds yet another variable for Indian companies balancing global deployment pipelines. Immediate steps include auditing assignee travel calendars, accelerating document gathering for pending petitions, and updating risk disclosures to senior management.
The White House offered no details on which nations fall under the catch-all term or how existing visas will be treated, but the president ordered United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to “re-examine every green card for every alien from every country of concern.” Immigration attorneys in New Delhi expect a surge in Requests for Evidence and additional security screening for Indians across H-1B, L-1 and EB categories, citing historical precedence from the 2017 travel-ban era.
Indian IT and consulting giants—who together hold more than 180,000 H-1B approvals—face two immediate risks. First, employees currently in the US but planning home-leave trips may be stranded if renewal visas are put on hold. Second, ongoing green-card adjudications could be paused indefinitely, heightening attrition to competing destinations such as Canada. Corporate legal teams are already advising onshore staff to postpone non-essential travel until DHS publishes formal guidance.
Family-based immigration streams also hang in the balance. Spouses and children awaiting consular processing in India may see interviews cancelled with little notice, prolonging separations. Education agents fear that a climate of uncertainty could dent spring-2026 graduate-intake numbers, a cohort already squeezed by a record 74 percent Canadian study-permit refusal rate this year.
Experts note that the proclamation will almost certainly face court challenges, and Congress could intervene if key sectors complain of talent shortages. Nevertheless, the announcement—couched in national-security terms after a Washington, DC shooting—adds yet another variable for Indian companies balancing global deployment pipelines. Immediate steps include auditing assignee travel calendars, accelerating document gathering for pending petitions, and updating risk disclosures to senior management.
