Indian candidates for H-1B visas are experiencing significant delays; January appointment times have been rescheduled for September.
Thousands of skilled professionals who intend to travel to the US for work are impacted by the scenario, which has increased the already-existing uncertainty around US visa processing.
Rajiv Khanna, an immigration attorney, brought attention to the problem by stating, "H-1B India January visa appointments are being pushed to September."
Those who need to get their visas stamped at US consulates in India, such as first-time applicants and those renewing their visas after travel, are primarily impacted by the delays.
Numerous H-1B and H-4 visa appointments that were originally scheduled for mid-to late-December 2025 have been canceled and rescheduled for March 2026, which has increased the inconvenience.
The cancellations have been connected by US consular posts to a new online presence screening procedure for H-1B and H-4 applicants that will begin on December 15.
Applicants and their dependents are now required to make their social media profiles available for public scrutiny. The strategy, which is a component of increased background checks, has caused consular offices to perform fewer interviews daily, which has led to the cancellation and rescheduling of appointments.
Because this administration has created a systemic issue that seems intentional, there isn't much that can be done. What was so urgent that people's lives had to be drastically altered and the social media vetting policy had to be changed? This is now a common issue for H-1B applicants in India.
Khanna also cited past policy modifications that have made matters worse. Additionally, keep in mind that the Trump administration had previously declared that you may only apply for a visa from your home country or place of nationality.
Employers and employees who are already in the process of stamping now face a "wall" due to this order and the present delay mess.
Many employees have been forced to postpone joining dates, travel arrangements, or career changes due to the lengthy wait times.
The delays coincide with more significant modifications to the H-1B program. The US government implemented modernization regulations in early 2025 that enhanced degree relevance standards, regulated definitions of specialty jobs, and raised employer compliance requirements.
The announcement of a $100,000 one-time cost for all new H-1B petitions in September 2025 put more pressure on hiring decisions, particularly for Indian IT companies.
The H-1B landscape has changed as a result of appointment delays, more scrutiny, and policy changes. This has resulted in longer timetables and more uncertainty for both businesses and applicants.
