The prolonged delay in H-1B visa stamping in India continues to trouble applicants, with interview dates now being deferred as far as 2027. The backlog problem has expanded since December because US consulates refuse to provide any interview slots for applicants who need them throughout the nation.
Immigration experts warn that the situation is unlikely to improve anytime soon. H-1B visa holders who work in the United States must remain in the country because their visa appointment times to travel to India for stamping have been postponed.
The crisis started when H-1B visa holders entered India for their scheduled interviews but found out that their appointment times had been moved to 2026. The delays reportedly began after US visa officers introduced enhanced social media vetting procedures.
Applicants with interview dates in January and February have since received official emails from US consulates stating that their appointments have now been moved to April or May 2027, adding to the uncertainty faced by skilled workers and their families.
Immigration attorney Emily Neumann said there has been no movement in opening new visa interview slots in India for nearly two months. She warned H-1B visa holders who live in the United States not to try making appointment bookings in India. According to her statement the current administration implements stricter visa approval processes that make it more difficult to obtain visas than during previous years.
The US State Department has started using “prudential visa revocation” procedures which create additional stress for people. The system allows visa cancellations to occur when new evidence shows that a person no longer meets eligibility requirements. Immigration specialists report that H-4 visa holders face the same problems as other visa holders because their spouses lose their visas after the primary H-1B holder has received legal penalties for past offenses like DUI.
The current visa approval process has created an environment of uncertainty for thousands of Indian professionals who need US work visas because of increased interview delays and visa revocation rates.
