The United States’ sudden decision to push mid-December visa interviews to March–April 2026 has created intense confusion among Indian applicants, especially H-1B workers who travelled home expecting routine processing. The disruption comes barely a week after Washington announced expanded social-media screening for H-1B and H-4 applicants — a policy shift that appears to have directly strained consular operations.
According to immigration attorneys, the postponements represent a serious operational bottleneck. Interviews scheduled for mid-December were abruptly shifted months ahead, leaving hundreds of applicants stranded. Those who have already flown to India for stamping now have no option but to wait until their new appointment dates, especially if they have completed Visa Application Centre (VAC) biometrics, which locks their cases into the system.
The US Embassy in India confirmed the delays, stating that affected individuals should log into their visa portal accounts and download updated appointment letters. Applicants who cannot attend the new date may reschedule once, but expired fee receipts may be forfeited. With American companies unable to keep positions vacant for months — and with export-control and payroll laws restricting remote work from abroad — attorneys warn that travelling now for stamping could put H-1B workers at risk of losing their jobs entirely.
Experts are also advising H-1B holders still in the United States not to travel internationally unless they already possess a valid, unexpired visa stamp. For those currently in India, the reality is unavoidable: they must remain until the consular section calls them back.
The embassy’s decision has coincided with the introduction of social-media vetting for work visa applicants. Immigration advisers now strongly recommend that applicants review and clean up their online presence well before their appointments. This includes removing inactive or duplicate accounts, ensuring all profiles are consistent and accurate, and avoiding major deletions or edits close to the interview date, as abrupt changes may trigger additional scrutiny.
Visa holders whose interviews were postponed are also urged to inform their employers immediately. Employers may need to update documentation, plan for extended absences, or make temporary work-arrangement adjustments.
With the US consulates signalling that the delays stem from workload constraints tied to new vetting rules, applicants should prepare for longer timelines, stricter checks, and closer coordination with their employers in the months ahead.
