Thousands Of H-1B Visa Interviews In India Postponed Amid Enhanced Vetting Rules

Applicants who had visa interview appointments scheduled on or after December 15 have been particularly affected.

Thousands of H-1B visa applicants in India have seen their pre-scheduled US visa interviews postponed by several months following the introduction of stricter background and social media vetting requirements, according to reports.

Applicants With December 15 and Later Appointments Most Affected

Applicants who had visa interview appointments scheduled on or after December 15 have been particularly affected. In many cases, interviews have been rescheduled to much later dates, with some applicants receiving new appointments as late as October 2026.

US Embassy Advises Against Visiting Consular Offices

The US Embassy in India has advised applicants not to appear at consular offices based on their earlier interview dates if they have received rescheduling notifications.

In a post on X earlier this month, the embassy said, “If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date. Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate.” 

Delays Linked to Enhanced Screening Measures

As per media reports, the rescheduling applies to all visa applicants who had interviews scheduled from December 15 onwards. The delays are reportedly linked to the implementation of enhanced screening measures, including expanded scrutiny of applicants’ social media profiles.

Many of the affected H-1B applicants were already in India for visa stamping when their interviews were postponed. As they do not currently hold valid H-1B visas, they are unable to return to the United States until their new interview dates, resulting in extended stays in India and delays in resuming work in the US.

These developments come at a time when visa-related costs and compliance requirements for H-1B applicants and employers have increased. The Trump administration recently raised the fee for H-1B visas to $100,000, further adding to the financial burden associated with the programme.

The US government has not announced a timeline for clearing the backlog of postponed interviews or provided detailed guidance on how long the enhanced vetting process is expected to take.