The Indian professionals who need H-1B visa stamping must wait for extended periods. The current situation requires India to postpone visa stamping interview appointments until 2027. The United States consulate system experiences this delay because it currently lacks new interview slots for scheduling. The United States border restrictions prevent many professionals from entering the country while some professionals from entering the country endanger their job security.
The increase in consulate backlogs causes longer waiting times for applicants
- US consulates in India face serious problems because they have reached maximum capacity. The first interview delays began in December 2025, when appointments were rescheduled to March 2026. The original dates have been changed to October 2026, but current media reports show that the dates have been rescheduled for 2027.
- All consulates in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata do not offer fresh interview slots at this time. The official interview schedule now extends to mid-2027 because of the current appointment shortage which forces officials to reschedule appointments.
Experts Advise Against Travel to India
- Immigration experts are advising H-1B holders in the United States to avoid traveling to India for visa stamping. Emily Newman from a Houston-based immigration firm said that no interview slots for India have opened during the last 50 days.
- According to reports, US professionals do not want to schedule their stamping appointments in India. American Bazaar reports that interview slots will not become accessible until 2027. The applicants who went to India for stamping experienced appointment cancellations and postponements. The notification system assigned new interview dates to applicants who had scheduled January and February interviews for almost one year later.
Professionals Stranded and Facing Job Risks
- The US remains inaccessible to thousands of professionals who came to India for visa stamping. In several cases, their spouses and children remain in the United States. The separation between family members results in problems that affect their employment contracts and housing arrangements and their family relationships.
- Some employees whose visas have expired are not receiving extensions from their employers. Companies hesitate to submit new H-1B applications because of the $100,000 application fee that they must pay.
Policy Change Adds Pressure
A previous US State Department decision has resulted in a worse situation. Under this policy, Indian nationals can no longer obtain visa stamping at US consulates in other countries. The Indian consulates face increased demand because of this ban which has resulted in higher appointment waiting times.
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