H-1B Visa Chaos: Thousands of Indian Tech Workers Stranded as US Consulates Reschedule Appointments to 2026
New Delhi/Pune: A sudden wave of US visa appointment cancellations has left thousands of Indian H-1B holders in a state of “brutal chaos,” stranded in India during the peak holiday season with no clear path back to their jobs in the United States.
The Crisis: Mass Cancellations and Year-Long Delays
Since December 15, 2025, US consulates across India, most notably in Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, have unilaterally cancelled thousands of H-1B and H-4 visa interview slots. These appointments, originally set for late 2025, are being automatically rescheduled to March, July, and in some extreme cases, even 2027.
The “Mission India” posts have cited “operational constraints” for the move, but the impact is immediate: high-skilled professionals who traveled home for weddings, family emergencies, or the December break now find themselves on expired visas, unable to re-enter the US.
The Trigger: Mandatory Social Media Vetting
The bottleneck stems from a new “online presence review” policy that became mandatory for all H-1B and H-4 applicants on December 15. Under this Trump administration mandate, consular officers must conduct an exhaustive review of an applicant’s digital footprint over the last five years.
Key requirements of the new vetting process include:
- Public Profiles: Applicants are instructed to set all social media accounts to “public” before their interview.
- Content Screening: Officials are flagging “signs of hostility” toward US institutions or “censorship” activities.
- Administrative Processing: The added scrutiny has significantly reduced the number of interviews consulates can process daily, leading to the mass rescheduling of existing slots.
“Guinea Pigs” for New Vetting Rules
Early applicants who attended interviews in mid-December describe a confusing environment. Reports from the Chennai consulate indicate that many H-1B workers are being issued 221(g) “Refusal” slips, a placeholder for administrative processing, while officers verify their online presence and news consumption habits.
“It felt like we were the select few acting as guinea pigs for this new process,” one engineer shared on social media. While a 221(g) is not an official denial, it can stall visa issuance for weeks or months, leaving workers in professional limbo.
Stranded Workers Face Job Loss and Family Separation
The human cost of the H-1B visa stamping delays 2025 is mounting. Immigration attorneys report that hundreds of clients are now on unpaid leave. Tech giants like Google and Amazon have reportedly issued internal advisories warning H-1B staff against international travel.
For many, the situation is dire:
- Employment Risk: US employers are often unable to allow long-term remote work from India due to tax and export-control laws.
- Family Hardship: Families have been split, with children in the US unable to reunite with parents stuck in India.
- Financial Strain: Many stranded workers are still paying US mortgages and rents while living off savings in India.
Limited Options for Affected Applicants
With the US State Department ending “third-country” processing in September 2025, Indian workers can no longer “forum shop” for faster appointments in Canada or Mexico.
The US Embassy in India has clarified that biometrics appointments (VAC) remain valid, but attending a cancelled interview date will result in denied entry to the consulate. Applicants are allowed only one chance to reschedule their new date; missing that slot could mean forfeiting fees and restarting the entire process.
