By Keerthi Ramesh
A growing backlog at U.S. consulates across India has forced interview dates for H-1B visa stamping well into 2027, upending travel and work plans for thousands of Indian professionals and their families.
The delays, which began surfacing in December 2025, have become deeper and more widespread in recent weeks. Consulates in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata have effectively run out of available appointments, prompting officials to reschedule existing interview slots by up to 18 months.
Applicants who originally expected interviews in early 2026 are now receiving notices with dates in April, May and even later, in 2027. Immigration attorneys and affected applicants say the situation is unprecedented and chaotic.
“There’s virtually no regular appointment left until 2027,” said one immigration lawyer familiar with the situation. “People who travelled for stamping last month were told their interviews were cancelled. Those with dates in January and February received new dates more than a year later.”
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Many affected workers have taken to social media to share their frustrations, describing sudden changes to long-planned travel and uncertainty about their employment status. One Reddit user said an appointment originally scheduled for February 2026 in Chennai was pushed to May 2027, forcing that applicant to cancel travel and reconsider career plans.
For families, the stress goes beyond logistics. Some H-1B holders and their spouses are now separated from children and partners for extended periods, with schools and jobs disrupted.
Officials at the U.S. State Department have attributed the slowdown to enhanced vetting procedures, including a requirement that consular officers review applicants’ public social media presence before interviews. That additional scrutiny, implemented in mid-December, has reduced daily interview capacity and extended processing times.
The State Department has also ended a long-standing option that allowed Indian nationals to seek visa stamping in third countries, further concentrating demand on posts within India.
While some employers and immigration lawyers have urged patience, others warn that the backlog could have broader consequences for U.S. tech companies and the global workforce. “There are no realistic alternatives right now,” one immigration attorney said. “Professionals need these visas to work and support families. Being stuck in limbo hurts everyone.”
Affected applicants are being advised to monitor communication from consulates closely and not to travel based on original appointment dates. U.S. mission posts have warned that appearing for an outdated appointment without confirmation of the new date could lead to denial of consular services.
As the delays persist, uncertainty looms for many skilled workers who fuel key sectors of the U.S. economy, particularly information technology. What had been a routine step in international travel is now a prolonged wait for many with no clear end in sight.