Breaking news - H1B visa interviews of thousands of applicants in India cancelled

 The U.S. Embassy in India has abruptly postponed thousands of pre-scheduled H-1B visa interviews originally planned for later this month, extending the delays by several months. This move appears to be part of heightened vetting measures that include a thorough review of applicants’ social media activity and online profiles.

Applicants who had their visa interview appointments set as early as next week have begun receiving emails informing them that their interviews have been pushed back to dates as late as May 2026. The cancellations affect all appointments from December 15 onwards and have sparked widespread uncertainty among applicants and employers alike.

This mass delay is expected to cause significant setbacks for skilled Indian professionals waiting to return to or join the U.S. workforce. Many industries, particularly in technology and engineering sectors where H-1B visa holders are highly concentrated, face potential disruptions due to employees being stranded abroad or unable to start new roles on time.

Emily Neumann, an immigration attorney based in Houston, expressed strong concerns about the unpredictability created by these changes. “Visa stamping feels like navigating a maze filled with pitfalls right now,” she said. “Appointments are being cancelled suddenly and rescheduled months later, causing real challenges for businesses and employees who depend on timely travel.”

The exact number of applicants impacted has not been officially disclosed, but anecdotal reports from visa candidates indicate widespread frustration. One applicant from Chennai shared anonymously on social media that their December 18 interview was cancelled the day after they completed biometrics, with the new appointment deferred to April 30, 2026.

The U.S. Embassy advised applicants not to visit consular offices on their original interview dates if they have received a rescheduling notice. “Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in denial of entry to the Embassy or Consulate,” it stated.

The enhanced scrutiny ties into broader U.S. immigration policy shifts aimed at tightening national security and verifying applicant backgrounds more rigorously, including a detailed examination of digital footprints. These changes come amid growing political and public focus on immigration processes and foreign worker employment in the United States.

The H-1B visa program allows U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals with specialized skills, initially granting three years of work authorization, extendable for another three years. Indians constitute approximately 71% of all approved H-1B petitions, according to recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data, underscoring India’s significant role in supplying talent to the U.S. tech and professional sectors.

With these extended delays, companies reliant on Indian high-skilled workers face operational challenges, and applicants confront prolonged uncertainty about their immigration status and career plans. The evolving situation highlights the complexity and vulnerability of international visa procedures amid shifting global security and immigration priorities.