San Jose, California – E be like say wahala don dey brew for H-1B visa holders as US Department of State don announce new rules wey go need everybody wey hold nonimmigrant visa make dem go back home come do in-person interview when dem wan renew dem visas. From September 2, 2025, na so e go take be. This one go turn many things upside down for Silicon Valley, where plenty technology companies dey rely on this visa dey carry workers come.
Before, visa holders fit just (as dem dey talk, just relax) use the Interview Waiver Program wey allow dem skip the stress wey dey come with in-person consulate interviews. But Audrea Golding, wey be attorney for immigration, talk say under this new rule, no be so e go be again. Now, most H-1B holders and their dependents, including children wey dey below 14 and old pipo wey dey above 79, go need to dem dey back for their home country to apply for visa renewals.
Wetin this one mean? It mean sey e go cost plenty money, time, and wahala, as plenty visa holders go dey stuck for places like India and China wey far, and dem no fit return back to work on time. Bill Hing, professor for Law and Migration Studies for University of San Francisco, don talk sey this new requirement go create serious delays.
“E go make processing take longer, and e go dey costly, because dem go dey stuck for their country,” Hing talk. “Wetin we dey use visa do na for Silicon Valley, and we go dey face serious challenges.”
California dey hold the record with over 61,000 H-1B holders. E no dey shock sey, na this state carry the largest number of top companies wey dey sponsor H-1B visas, like Meta, Apple, and Google. As limitation dey come, some companies fit even begin dey face worker backup. Golding dey warn say the backlog for appointments fit begin dey show before we even enter the holiday season.
“People go need to plan well make dem fit handle this new demand. Getting appointment for over busy periods, especially holiday, go be like finding needle for haystack,” she add. “Social media questions go dey vet well well now, so make people dey shine their eyes.”
Na for Bay Area wey tech companies dey survive with these skilled workers, so e go be challenge. All dis changes fit really make people dey rethink everything wey involve the whole visa process. E don clear sey, Silicon Valley need to prepare for dis new wahala before e scatter everywhere.”
