“If the interview is postponed, the only option that remains is requesting for expedited appointments.” – Gnanamookan Senthurjothi, immigration attorney.
Those hoping for some respite from the unforeseen H-1B visa cancellations seem to have been hit with another wave. It’s round two of H-1B and H-4 visa mass cancellations as consulates in India seems to be once again shifting visa appointments to as far as 2027. In fact, by many accounts, there seem to be no visa appointments dates for 2026.
For many families who traveled to India, thinking the worst may be over, the struggle has just begun. A distraught H-1B holder recently posted on an expat social media group that the family had a visa appointment for February. While the wife and kids traveled to India already, in January so that they can have some time to spend with the family, the husband who is the primary H-1B holder planned to travel in February, just a week ahead of the appointment.
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But even before he could undertake the trip, he got an email that his visa appointment has been cancelled and reschedule for March 2027. Aghast with this family separation and not knowing how to navigate the current situation, he is now consulting immigration attorneys on how he can get his family back into the U.S.
Some immigration attorneys informed The American Bazaar that they have been hearing about visa appointment pushed as far into June 2027, creating a significant real-life challenge for both, the employees as well as the families separated due to appointment schedules.
Immigration attorney Gnanamookan Senthurjothi of the Visa Code advises prolonged avoidance of travel to India. He says, “It is actually the second round that these mass cancellations are happening. When we thought things may settle down, it seems to have started again.” On his advice to H-1B visa holders, he says, “Applicants must postpone their trip again. Unfortunately, those who are outside of the U.S. without a visa interview date are stuck indefinitely in India, given the situation.”
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Many H-1B visa holders shared with The American Bazaar that they could not find any interview slots in the consulates all across India. The continued cancellations began happening after the introduction of mandatory screening of all social media accounts of H-1B applicants. Some applicants who could appear for their interviews have reported that even though they had made all their social media accounts public, they were still handed a 221(g). However, a few days later their cases got approved.
But amid all these cancellations and delays, the most important questions remains for those stuck in this situation that what options if any do they have if their visa appointments have been pushed to dates so far ahead. Senthurjothi says, “If the interview is postponed, the only option that remains is requesting for expedited appointments.” He warns that applicants must choose their options judiciously. He adds, “Remember, the applicants have only two chances for expedited appointments.”
On the approval rates for expedite requests, he says, “Unfortunately, not for all of them have been successful. But the relief is that few have got approvals.”