Thousands of H-1B visa hopefuls in India have been hit by unexpected delays after the US government abruptly postponed long-scheduled visa interviews by several months. The sweeping rescheduling comes as Washington enforces stricter social media vetting norms across all visa categories.
Applicants who were set to appear before consular officers in the coming days received late-night emails informing them that their appointments had been cancelled and reassigned to dates deep into 2026. The changes apply to all applicants who were originally given interview slots from December 15 onwards.
The sudden postponements have left many Indian professionals stranded. A majority of the affected applicants were already in India and now cannot return to their US jobs because their H-1B visas are pending renewal. For instance, interviews scheduled for December 15 have been pushed to March 2026, while appointments originally set for December 19 have been moved to late May.
Reports indicate that interviews for several other visa categories are facing similar disruptions due to enhanced scrutiny of applicants’ social media footprints. The exact number of people impacted remains unclear.
The US Embassy in India has advised applicants not to visit consular offices on their old interview dates.
“If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date,” the embassy said. “Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in denied admittance.”
Frustration among applicants has spilled onto social media, with many sharing their predicaments anonymously. One applicant wrote that their H-1B appointment in Chennai—originally set for December 18—was cancelled right after completing biometrics and pushed to April 30, 2026.
Immigration experts have also criticised the move. Houston-based immigration attorney Emily Neumann said the cancellations have added chaos to an already complex process.
“Visa stamping feels like a maze of pitfalls right now. Appointments are getting cancelled without warning and pushed out by months,” she noted. “There is no predictability, and it is creating real challenges for businesses and employees who need to travel.”
The Trump administration has progressively tightened the H-1B programme under its broader immigration controls, including increased scrutiny of social media activity. Indians account for nearly 71 per cent of all approved H-1B applications, according to USCIS data.
In a significant escalation, President Donald Trump in September signed a proclamation raising H-1B visa fees to USD 100,000—an unprecedented increase that adds further uncertainty for applicants and employers.
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