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H-1B visa interview dates deferred until 2027: What's the reason?
27 Jan 2026

The United States consulates in India have reportedly pushed back H-1B visa stamping interview appointments to 2027.

Visa offices in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata are fully booked until next year.

The delays began in December 2025 when appointments for that month were rescheduled to March 2026 and then to October of the same year.

H-1B visa delays due to increased scrutiny
Scrutiny

The delays are mainly attributed to the Donald Trump administration's increased scrutiny of H-1B visa applicants.

The "America first" policy has intensified vetting processes, significantly slowing down the application process.

In December 2025, the US Embassy in India advised applicants to apply as early as possible and expect longer processing times for these visas.

India dominates global H-1B visa demand
Demand

India is the largest source of H-1B visa applicants, accounting for 71% of all approvals in fiscal year 2024.

The program is largely dominated by the IT sector and other industries that employ college graduates.

To address concerns over program abuse while still allowing companies to hire top talent, the US government has ramped up scrutiny under its "America first" vision.

New rules for H-1B visa allocation
Visa rules

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced new rules for the fiscal year 2027.

A weighted selection process will now be used to prioritize "higher-skilled and higher-paid aliens."

However, the annual quota remains capped at 85,000 visas for fiscal year 2026.

Other key changes include an electronic registration process and a $100,000 H-1B visa fee.

Changes in visa stamping process and social media vetting
Visa changes

The USCIS may also require H-1B beneficiaries to provide biometrics for identity verification.

The US Department of State has also mandated enhanced social media vetting for all H-1B and H-4 dependent visa applicants from December 15, 2025.

These changes have left Indian professionals with uncertain prospects as travel plans and employment opportunities are now disrupted due to the delayed visa interviews.

Indian professionals face hurdles due to visa delays
Professional impact

The postponement of H-1B visa-stamping interviews has thrown travel plans and job opportunities for many Indian professionals out of gear.

The State Department's decision to end the option for Indian nationals to get visa stamping in third countries means all applications must now go through Indian missions.

Immigration attorney Emily Neumann advised against seeking appointments for visa stamping in India, saying "they are not in any hurry to give you a visa."