H‑1B consulate delays in India
U.S. consular H-1B appointment backlogs in India have lengthened dramatically — some applicants report no slots for 100+ days with scheduling pushed into 2027, stranding skilled workers awaiting visa stamping. Industry groups are calling on the State Department for rapid intervention as employers lose access to international hires. (x.com)
The State Department expanded its Online Presence Review to include H‑1B and H‑4 applicants effective December 15, 2025, and several U.S. consular posts began mass rescheduling interviews as early as December 8, 2025 to implement the new vetting. (Fragomen.com) (Ahluwalialaw.com) U.S. consulates in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata cancelled and rebooked blocks of petition‑based visa interviews, and multiple media checks of the Department of State appointment system showed “No Appointments Available” for petition categories at several posts. (VisaHQ.com) (Moneylife.in) The Department of State’s September 6, 2025 directive ending third‑country (TCN) nonimmigrant visa processing removed the common workaround that many Indian applicants used to seek faster interview slots abroad. (CILawGroup.com) (NatLawReview.com) Consular notices and counsel alerts state applicants are now subject to an Online Presence Review that may require making social‑media profiles available for inspection and that posts have reduced daily interview throughput to accommodate the review. (Larrabee.com) (VisaVerge.com) Immigration law firms and reports say thousands of H‑1B holders were left stranded after sudden cancellations, and U.S. employers face payroll, tax and compliance exposure from extended worker absences, according to Bloomberg Law and multiple practitioner reports. (BloombergLaw.com) (TimesNowNews.com) India’s technology industry body NASSCOM and other industry stakeholders have publicly warned that recent H‑1B policy changes risk the U.S.–India talent pipeline and urged adjustments to workforce planning and engagement with U.S. policymakers. (NDTVProfit.com) (EconomicTimes.indiatimes.com) The Department of State’s Visa Appointment Wait Times page emphasizes that wait estimates are based on workload and are updated regularly, while immigration firms have advised applicants to monitor CEAC emails and consular portals for official rebooking notices. (Travel.State.Gov) (Ahluwalialaw.com)
