New Delhi: Indian professionals working in the United States on H-1B visas are facing renewed uncertainty after visa interview slots across major Indian cities were pushed to 2027, with no fresh appointments available for the remainder of the current calendar year. The development has disrupted travel plans, family reunions and employment continuity for thousands who depend on timely visa stamping to maintain lawful status.
Visa offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata are no longer offering regular interview slots for petition-based non-immigrant visas, including H-1B, L-1 and O categories. Applicants checking official appointment portals are being met with a blunt “not available” status, reflecting a growing backlog that immigration experts say is unlikely to ease anytime soon.
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Several applicants who had secured interview dates in January and February reported receiving official emails informing them that their appointments had been rescheduled to April or May 2027. The deferrals have sparked widespread concern, especially among professionals whose visas require stamping for international travel or employment transitions.
Immigration specialists attribute the pile-up to a combination of policy tightening and operational bottlenecks. The H-1B programme is currently undergoing a major overhaul, with new rules notified in late December for the 2027 fiscal year. While the annual quota of 85,000 visas — including 20,000 reserved for applicants with US postgraduate degrees — remains unchanged, procedural changes and heightened scrutiny have slowed processing.
A significant contributor to delays has been the introduction of mandatory social media screening for visa applicants. The expanded vetting process has increased the time required to process each case, reducing the number of interviews consulates can conduct daily. In parallel, the US has largely discontinued visa stamping in third countries, barring limited exceptions, forcing Indian applicants to rely exclusively on domestic consular capacity.
The tightening environment has also raised concerns among those currently residing in the US. Immigration lawyers have cautioned H-1B holders against travelling to India solely for visa stamping, warning that the risk of prolonged delays or refusals has increased sharply. The unpredictability has left many professionals reluctant to leave the US, even for urgent family reasons.
Adding to the anxiety, visa revocations have reportedly risen under “prudential” reviews. In several cases, dependent H-4 visa holders have also faced revocations following action on their H-1B spouse’s visa, creating further instability for families already caught in the backlog.
The impact is being felt most acutely by technology professionals, researchers and skilled workers who form a significant part of the US workforce. Many companies rely on H-1B employees for critical roles, and prolonged visa delays risk disrupting projects, promotions and job mobility. For families, the uncertainty has translated into postponed weddings, delayed schooling for children and extended separations.
Despite repeated concerns raised by applicants and legal experts, there is little indication of immediate relief. Consular staffing levels have not increased in proportion to demand, and no announcement has been made regarding additional interview capacity or special drives for Indian applicants.
For now, affected professionals are being advised to plan conservatively, avoid non-essential travel and ensure documentation is meticulously maintained. As the backlog stretches into 2027, the H-1B visa process — once a predictable annual routine for many — has become another source of prolonged uncertainty in an already restrictive immigration landscape.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
