The US embassy in India has formally advised applicants not to appear at consular offices on their originally scheduled interview dates if they have received rescheduling notifications. In a public advisory issued earlier this month, the embassy warned that applicants arriving on cancelled dates would be denied entry.
According to official communication, all H-1B applicants with interviews scheduled from December 15 onward are subject to rescheduling. The embassy has not provided a specific timeline for clearing the backlog or restoring normal appointment availability.
Stricter Vetting Behind the Delays
The primary reason cited for the cancellations is the implementation of enhanced background checks and stricter scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity. Reports indicate that US authorities are conducting deeper digital footprint assessments as part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy.
These additional vetting measures have increased processing times across multiple visa categories, not just H-1B renewals. However, the H-1B segment has been particularly impacted due to high application volumes from India.
Professionals Stranded Outside the US
Many affected applicants had travelled to India specifically for visa stamping and are now unable to return to the US because their existing H-1B visas have expired. Without a valid visa stamp, they are legally barred from resuming work, despite holding approved employment contracts.
The prolonged uncertainty has disrupted careers, delayed projects and imposed financial stress on families dependent on US-based employment.
Legal Experts Raise Concerns
Immigration attorneys have sharply criticised the lack of predictability in the visa process. Houston-based immigration lawyer Emily Neumann described the current system as chaotic, warning that sudden cancellations without prior notice are creating serious challenges for both employers and employees.
Legal experts argue that while security checks are legitimate, abrupt rescheduling without transparency undermines trust and planning for multinational businesses relying on skilled foreign workers.
Trump Administration’s Immigration Stance
The visa disruptions align with the Donald Trump administration’s broader policy of tightening immigration controls. Increased scrutiny of foreign workers, particularly in specialised visa categories, has been a central theme of recent policy changes.
Earlier this year, President Trump signed a proclamation sharply increasing H-1B visa fees, significantly raising costs for employers and applicants. These measures have collectively reduced accessibility to the programme.
India’s Stake in the H-1B Programme
India remains the single largest beneficiary of the H-1B visa programme, accounting for an estimated 71% of approvals in recent years, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services data. Any disruption to the programme therefore disproportionately impacts Indian professionals.
What Applicants Can Expect Next
At present, there is no clarity on when normal appointment scheduling will resume. Applicants are advised to regularly monitor official embassy communications and avoid reliance on unofficial sources or intermediaries.
Experts recommend contingency planning, including employer coordination and legal consultation, until visa processing stabilises.