US Visa Chaos: Thousands of H-1B Applicants in India Face Months-Long Interview Delays

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In a sudden and unexpected move, the US embassy in India has cancelled thousands of pre-scheduled H-1B visa renewal interviews, citing stricter background and social media vetting rules. The affected applicants, who had appointments scheduled for December 15 onwards, are now facing rescheduled interviews as late as October 2026. The US embassy has urged applicants not to show up for their original appointment dates, warning that they will be denied entry. The mass cancellation of interviews is expected to cause significant delays for H-1B visa holders, who are now unable to return to the US due to the lack of a valid visa. Many applicants had already arrived in India for their interviews and are now stranded. According to a report by PTI, the new vetting measures are not limited to H-1B applicants, with other categories of visa applicants also facing postponed interviews. The exact number of affected applicants is unknown. Houston-based immigration attorney Emily Neumann has criticized the cancellation of H-1B visa appointments, describing the process as 'a maze of pitfalls.' She noted that the lack of predictability in the visa process is causing real challenges for businesses and employees who need to travel. The US has been tightening its H-1B visa programme under the Trump administration, with a focus on scrutinizing social media profiles and posts of visa applicants. Under the programme, companies can recruit foreign workers with specialized skills to work in the US for up to six years. Indians make up a significant majority of approved H-1B applications, with an estimated 71% of approvals in recent years. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reported a significant increase in applications, with the fee for H-1B visas raised to $100,000 in September.