Indian professionals applying for H-1B visa stamping in India are running into an unexpected roadblock.
What was supposed to be a routine process has now turned into a years-long wait, with interview dates being pushed as far as 2027.
Here’s a simplified breakdown of what’s happening, why it matters, and what applicants can do right now.
H-1B Visa Interviews Pushed Back by Years
Many applicants who had visa interviews scheduled between January and March 2026 started receiving sudden emails around January 22.
These messages informed them that both their biometric and consular interviews had been postponed—by more than 14 months in some cases.
This delay didn’t happen overnight.
In December 2025, interviews scheduled for that month were moved to March 2026 and described as “temporary.”
Later, those same appointments were shifted again to October 2026.
Now, several applicants say their new dates fall in April or May 2027.
What started as a short rescheduling has clearly turned into a multi-year backlog, leaving many professionals stuck in limbo.
Why Are Interviews Being Rescheduled Without Warning?
According to immigration attorneys Gnanamookan Senthurjothi and Veena Vijay Ananth, founders of The Visa Code, there is still no clear explanation from US authorities.
One possible factor is online presence and social media vetting.
Applicants are required to list their social media accounts on the DS-160 form.
If profiles are incomplete, missing, or set to private, it can trigger administrative processing delays lasting several weeks.
What’s confusing is the lack of consistency.
Some applicants were allowed to attend interviews in December 2025 and January 2026, and a few are expected to proceed in February 2026 as well.
Others, with similar profiles, are facing sudden rescheduling.
What H-1B and H-4 Applicants Should Do Now
Experts advise applicants to be extra cautious with their paperwork and online profiles.
Here are a few important steps:
Keep all social media profiles public
List every social media account accurately on the DS-160 form
Ensure the DS-160 is fully completed before booking an appointment
Avoid waiting until the biometric appointment to finish the form
Even small technical mistakes in the DS-160 can now lead to major delays or rescheduling, attorneys warn.
Stuck Abroad Due to Delays? Here Are Your Options
Applicants stranded outside the US due to rescheduled interviews may request an expedited appointment if they have urgent business or humanitarian reasons.
Each applicant is allowed two expedited requests, but timing matters.
Recently, some expedited requests have been approved for March or April 2026, which is far earlier than waiting until 2027.
Applicants are advised to use their strongest qualifying reason first and not rely on advice circulating on social media.
If both expedited requests have already been used, experts strongly advise not cancelling the existing appointment—even if it’s far in the future.
At the moment, regular visa slots are not reopening, and there’s no timeline for when they might.
