Immigration attorneys are issuing urgent warnings to H-1B visa holders, particularly those from India, after the mass and sudden postponement of visa stamping interviews. Appointments originally scheduled for mid-to-late December have been abruptly pushed back, in some cases as far as March, April, or even May 2026.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The primary reason cited for this widespread rescheduling is the new US State Department policy that mandates an expanded social media and online presence review for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, which begins on December 15. This additional vetting process is significantly reducing the daily interview capacity at US Consulates in India.
Critical Advice: Do Not Travel to India
Attorneys are unanimously advising H-1B visa holders currently in the United States to avoid all international travel for visa stamping if they do not already have a valid, unexpired visa in their passport.
- Risk of Job Loss and Unemployment: Being stranded outside the US for several months—up to half a year—is a severe risk. Many American companies cannot legally sustain prolonged remote work from abroad due to strict export-control, payroll, and tax regulations. An H-1B role cannot be kept vacant for that long, meaning affected workers risk losing their jobs and becoming unemployed.
- Risk of Family Separation: Delays extending into 2026 will lead to months of separation for workers from their families and dependents who remain in the US.
- Visa Stamping vs. Legal Status: Attorneys emphasize that the visa stamp is solely required for re-entry into the United States. If an H-1B holder is already in the US and their status is valid, they should not travel for stamping, even if their appointment date has not yet been rescheduled.
For H-1B Workers Already Stranded in India
Hundreds of visa holders who traveled to India for their December appointments have received last-minute emails notifying them of the postponement.
- Mandatory Wait: Those who are already in India and need a new visa stamp to return to the US have little recourse but to wait for their new appointment date.
- No Early Entry: The US Embassy in India has issued an advisory: Do not show up on the original appointment date, as you will be denied admittance to the Consulate.
The new social media vetting process requires applicants to make their online profiles public for scrutiny, marking the latest layer of increased scrutiny on the H-1B program.
I can also look for information on the H-1B domestic visa renewal pilot program to see if that offers an alternative for visa holders who are already in the U.S.
