Nikki Haley's son renews call for total H-1B ban amid visa delays, accuses New Delhi of chasing remittances

Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley's son Nalin Haley, daughter Rena Haley and son-in-law Joshua Jackson - File Photo

Nalin Haley, son of Nikki Haley, criticized the Indian government for raising H-1B visa delays with the US, claiming it's to protect remittance flows, not workers. His remarks drew backlash for downplaying stranded professionals' struggles amid ongoing visa issues.

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Nalin Haley, the son of former India-origin US ambassador to the United Nations and Republican leader Nikki Haley, has launched another sharp attack on the H-1B visa programme, this time directly targeting the Indian government.

In a post on X, Nalin Haley accused New Delhi of raising concerns with the Trump administration over H-1B visa delays not to protect Indian professionals, but to safeguard remittance inflows sent back to India by tech workers in the United States.

“You can’t be stranded in your own country. The Indian government is only complaining cuz they want their remittance money,” he wrote.

The remark has drawn criticism for trivialising the predicament of thousands of Indian professionals stuck in visa limbo. Many of them are unable to return to their US jobs due to prolonged delays in visa processing, despite having followed all legal requirements.

Haley’s comments are part of a broader campaign against the H-1B programme. He has repeatedly called for a complete ban, arguing that delays are insufficient.

“Delaying visas is good but not good enough. We need a complete H-1B visa ban,” he wrote earlier, claiming the programme harms American workers.

India raises visa delay issue with US

India’s outreach to Washington came after a surge in complaints from H-1B visa holders stranded outside the US. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, many professionals travelled to India for mandatory visa stamping, only to be informed later that their interview appointments had been postponed by months.

Appointments originally scheduled for December 2025 were reportedly pushed back to as late as October 2026, leaving workers unable to return to the US without valid visa stamps.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the issue had been taken up with American authorities.

“The Government of India has received multiple representations from Indian nationals facing delays and difficulties in scheduling or rescheduling US visa appointments. While visa matters fall under the sovereign domain of the issuing country, India has raised these concerns with the US authorities in New Delhi and Washington DC,” he said.

The delays have left workers in legal and professional uncertainty. Without fresh visa stamps, they are barred from re-entering the US and face questions over whether they can continue working remotely from India. Expanded social media screening has further slowed processing, pushing visa stamping timelines in India to at least six months.

Employers and immigration experts have warned professionals to avoid foreign travel altogether, describing the situation as one of the most disruptive periods for the H-1B programme in recent years.

Nalin Haley's hardline immigration position

Despite coming from a family with an immigrant background, Nalin Haley has adopted an uncompromising anti-immigration posture. His grandfather migrated to the US from Punjab, a fact often pointed out by critics. British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan previously highlighted this history after Haley called for an end to mass immigration.

Haley has also sought to distance himself from his Indian roots, insisting his loyalty lies solely with the United States. He argues that skilled worker visas disadvantage American graduates during a difficult job market.

Speaking earlier to Fox News, he said many young Americans remain unemployed despite strong academic credentials.

“We are seeing kids graduate with six figures in debt and not having a job to show for it,” he said, adding that none of his close friends had secured employment more than a year after graduation.

Critics say Haley’s rhetoric oversimplifies a complex labour market and unfairly targets legal immigrants who fill critical gaps in the US tech sector. His repeated calls for a total H-1B ban and his dismissal of stranded workers’ hardships have reinforced his image as a hardline and polarising voice in the immigration debate.

As visa holders remain stuck between countries and careers, Haley’s comments have added political heat to an already volatile issue, while offering little clarity or empathy for those caught in the middle of the system he wants dismantled.