New Delhi: Indian professionals working in the United States face a significant setback as opportunities to renew or apply for new H-1B visas have effectively closed for the year. According to the U.S. State Department website, interview slots at U.S. visa offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata are unavailable, with new appointments now being pushed to 2027.
The delay in H-1B visa approvals began last month, and immigration experts warn that the situation is unlikely to improve soon. They have advised H-1B holders currently in the U.S. to avoid traveling to India for renewals, as securing an interview date has become nearly impossible. This crisis has left hundreds of professionals who returned to India in December, expecting routine renewals, stranded and unable to return to their jobs.
Authorities have informed visa holders that due to the unavailability of slots in December, appointments have been deferred. Interviews originally scheduled for January and February of this year have been rescheduled as far back as April and May 2027. Affected individuals have received email notifications regarding these changes from various U.S. consulates.
The delays appear to be linked to a new U.S. government policy requiring the scrutiny of social media accounts prior to visa issuance. Additionally, new regulations for immigration and citizenship for the 2027 fiscal year were published on December 29. Despite these changes, the annual cap for Indian H-1B visas remains at 85,000, with 20,000 of those reserved for individuals who have completed master's degrees in the U.S.
The H-1B visa is a critical pathway for professionals in fields such as IT, engineering, data science, AI, analytics, finance, and healthcare. The visa is valid for three years. In a related move to control immigration, the fee for visa renewal was recently hiked to $100,000.