There is bad news as pre-scheduled interviews of thousands of H-1B visa holders have been abruptly postponed by several months. The interviews, which were originally scheduled to be held later in December has been delayed, leaving many stranded in India, reportedly due to strict background checks and social media vetting rules.
H-1B visa interviews rescheduled to…
Applicants with visa appointments slated after December 15, 2025, had to especially bear the brunt of the change, with some interviews being rescheduled to October 2026.
US Embassy advises applicants to avoid visiting Consulate office
The US Embassy in India has advised applicants to avoid visiting consular offices based on their earlier scheduled 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. Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate,” the embassy said in a post on X post earlier this month.
Delay in returning to America
The large-scale cancellation of H-1B visa interviews is expected to cause major delays in applicants’ return to the US. It particularly impacts Indian IT professionals who comprise the largest group of beneficiaries. Indian IT service companies such as TCS, Infosys, and Wipro have historically used H-1B visas to bring junior and mid-level developers to the United States to train them. NASSCOM estimates that around 200,000 Indian professionals are living in uncertainty.
H-1B visa programme
Under the H-1B visa programme, American companies hire foreign workers with specialised skills for an initial period of 3 years, which can be renewed for another 3 years. Earlier, in September, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation increasing the H-1B visa fee to $100,000.
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