Immigration lawyers in London are refusing clients with any criminal history. They say the US embassy in London rejects these visas no matter the job or reason for traveling. Financial Times reported that the embassy is refusing visas to top business leaders over minor past offences. These offences include things like past cannabis use, bar fights, or driving under the influence. Some incidents date back to the 1970s and may have only resulted in police warnings. Lawyers said people were allowed into the US before despite these records. The crackdown hits not just business visas but also H-1B visa holders. Thousands of H-1B workers are stuck in India after the US started social media checks on December 15, 2025. Visa appointments in India were pushed back by months, trapping applicants abroad for long periods. The tougher rules apply worldwide but India is hit hardest due to its large number of H-1B workers. In London, the US embassy issued over 150,000 non-immigrant visas in 2024 but now many are being denied. Lawyers said visa denials often cite the 214(b) rule, meaning the applicant failed to show they qualify for a visa. Christi Jackson from Laura Devine Immigration said, "Anybody that has a criminal irregularity — no matter how minor — is unlikely to obtain a visitor visa, and in some cases even a work visa, from London right now." She warned those with visas to "guard them with their lives." The US Department of State defended the policy, saying, "The Trump administration is upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through the visa process . . . [the US] will not tolerate foreign visitors violating our laws."