New Delhi: Thousands of Indian IT professionals and their families are facing a winter of uncertainty as the US embassy and consulates in India abruptly reschedules confirmed visa appointments, pushing many from December 2025 to as late as July next year.

The logistical upheaval comes just days before the December 15 implementation of stricter “online presence review” protocols.

A US embassy spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday (December 10) that the enhanced vetting measures, previously applied largely to student visas, will now extend to all H-1B and H-4 dependent applicants to ensure they “do not pose a risk to the safety and security of the United States”.

The spokesperson emphasised that authorities “will take the time necessary” to complete the screening process.

While the spokesperson cited “resource availability” as the reason for the shift, the impact on the ground has been immediate and severe. Applicants who expected a standard renewal process are now staring at delays of six to seven months.

The latest crisis facing H-1B workers came into sharp focus on Tuesday night when the US Embassy India posted an advisory on X. “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.”

Social media platforms and immigration forums are flooded with reports of the staggering delays. In one Reddit thread documenting the crisis, an applicant reported that their consular interview in Chennai, originally scheduled for December 24, was pushed back to July 15, 2026 – a seven-month postponement.

The situation is particularly chaotic for those who have already begun the process. Another user noted that while their biometric fingerprinting was completed on December 9, their actual visa interview, originally days away, was moved to May 1, 2026, leaving them in administrative limbo.

Several applicants reported being forced to cancel imminent travel plans. An anonymous Reddit user shared that he was forced to cancel a flight scheduled for December 13 just days before travel, after his appointment was suddenly shifted to July 2026.

The delays have created acute hardship for families separated across continents. “My originally scheduled visa interview on December 16 was unexpectedly rescheduled by the consulate to April 15,” wrote a Reddit user. “I am currently stranded in India without a valid US visa. My two kids and wife [are] stuck in the US She [doesn't] work [and is] highly dependent on me.”

For others, the extended stay in India threatens their employment. One visa applicant who travelled to India on limited paid time off saw their appointment moved to March 13. “I'm stuck here,” he wrote, expressing fear of job loss if unable to return to the US by January as planned.

Beyond the emotional toll, the financial burden continues to mount, with applicants losing substantial sums on non-refundable travel arrangements.

On X, one user questioned the lack of accountability: “Who is going to pay for the flight cancellation losses?” The question reflects a sentiment shared by many who booked travel based on confirmed appointments.

The operational collapse hits Indian citizens hardest, as they comprise the overwhelming majority of the US's temporary high-skilled workforce. According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data, Indian nationals accounted for over 70% of all H-1B visas issued annually.

The current vetting bottleneck is the latest chapter in a turbulent year for H-1B holders under the second Trump administration.

In September, the administration announced a new $100,000 fee for H-1B applications, causing immediate panic among tech workers.

However, following industry backlash, USCIS formally issued a clarification in October that the fee would apply only to new applications, exempting extension and amendment cases.

More recently, the administration appeared to soften its stance further. In November, President Donald Trump acknowledged the necessity of foreign expertise, citing specific needs in high-tech manufacturing. This was echoed by Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem a day later, who stated: “We're going to keep using our visa programs.”

There has been no response from the Indian government so far on the latest hurdles facing H-1B workers. Earlier in September, the Ministry of External Affairs had noted that mobility for skilled talent had contributed to wealth creation and economic growth in both India and the US.

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