H-1B Visa Interview Delays Surge: Thousands of skilled foreign workers, primarily Indian nationals, are currently facing unexpected and severe delays in their H-1B and H-4 visa interview appointments, with many dates being pushed back by several months and, in some cases, into the summer of 2026. This widespread disruption stems directly from the U.S. State Department’s new, expanded social media vetting policy, which has created immediate operational constraints at consulates, particularly across India.
The sudden wave of postponements is causing intense anxiety among visa holders who traveled home for the mandatory visa stamping process, leaving many stranded abroad and facing the very real possibility of losing their jobs in the United States. The situation is being monitored closely by immigration attorneys and U.S. employers who rely heavily on this talent pipeline.
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US H-1B Visa Interview Postponements: New Vetting Creates Months-Long Delays
The Mandate Behind the Postponements: Social Media Scrutiny
The core reason for the mass rescheduling is the introduction of a new, enhanced online presence review for all H-1B specialty occupation visa applicants and their H-4 dependents, an extension of screening measures previously applied to student visas. Effective December 15, 2025, consular officers are required to conduct a thorough review of applicants’ social media accounts and online activity.
This enhanced vetting process, intended to strengthen national security and public safety checks, requires officials to assess an applicant’s entire digital footprint, including posts, comments, and public affiliations, across platforms like LinkedIn, X, and Facebook. The U.S. State Department has cited the new review as creating “operational constraints” that necessitate a reduction in the number of interviews that can be processed daily.
Impact on Applicants: Stranded Workers and Disrupted Lives
The fallout from the sudden cancellations has been immediate and devastating for countless individuals and families. Many H-1B workers, who are often mid-career professionals, had meticulously planned their trips home around their original appointment dates, booking flights and coordinating travel with employers.
The delays have resulted in:
- Job Uncertainty: Workers on leave or remote work are now unable to return to the U.S. for months, raising concerns about potential job termination from employers unable to accommodate extended absences.
- Family Separation and Financial Strain: Dependent spouses and children on H-4 visas are experiencing similar distress, with school admissions, housing, and relocation plans thrown into chaos. One applicant noted the feeling of helplessness as their life was pushed back by months.
- Rescheduling Roadblocks: Initial reports indicated that many affected applicants found themselves unable to reschedule their appointments on the visa services website, leaving them in limbo with a cancelled appointment but no immediate path to a new date.
What Affected Applicants Need to Know Now
U.S. consulates in India have begun sending email notifications confirming the postponements. The U.S. Embassy in India issued a public advisory urging applicants to carefully check their new scheduled dates.
Key advisories for those impacted:
- Do Not Arrive on the Original Date: Consulates have explicitly warned that any applicant arriving on their previously scheduled date, despite having received a rescheduling notice, will be denied admittance.
- Prepare for the New Vetting: Applicants are advised to ensure all professional social media profiles, such as LinkedIn, are up-to-date and consistent with their visa application (Form DS-160) and resume. Any mismatch could lead to additional delays or questioning.
- Contact Your Employer: Immigration attorneys strongly recommend that H-1B applicants immediately inform their U.S. employer of the delay to discuss potential impacts on their work start or return date.
A Broader Context of Tighter Scrutiny
These latest postponements are not isolated; they occur amidst a significant tightening of the overall U.S. nonimmigrant visa landscape. Earlier this year, in September, the Department of State ended most of the pandemic-era interview waivers, commonly known as the “dropbox” program, for many visa categories, including H-1B, forcing nearly all renewal applicants back into the in-person interview queue.
The combination of an end to waivers and the new, time-consuming vetting procedures has led to a perfect storm of increased demand and reduced daily processing capacity, resulting in the long wait times now seen across the H-1B category.
