Beginning December 8, 2025, US consular posts across India began issuing widespread notices to H1B and H4 applicants informing them that visa interviews scheduled on or after December 15, 2025, would be reassigned to later dates. Many applicants have now been moved to appointments in March 2026.
According to public notices issued by posts including Hyderabad and Chennai, these changes are linked to the Department of State’s implementation of a new online presence review requirement for H1B applicants and their dependents. This additional vetting step has reduced daily interview capacity at Mission India while the new procedures are introduced.
Key Developments
Large-Scale Rescheduling of H1B and H4 Interviews
Applicants with appointments on or after December 15, 2025, report automatic reassignment to dates several months later. Many of the new appointments fall in the first quarter of 2026.
Reason for Appointment Changes
Consular posts cite the Department of State’s expanded online presence review for H1B applicants and dependents. Posts have reduced the number of interviews they can conduct each day while the review is completed.
Applicants Instructed Not to Attend Original Appointments
Official notices state that applicants will not be seen on their originally scheduled date. Only the newly assigned date will be honored.
Biometrics Appointments Remain Valid
Visa Application Centre biometrics schedules are unchanged. Applicants should attend their previously scheduled biometrics appointments even if their interview has been moved.
Rescheduling Limits
Applicants who cannot attend the new date may reschedule online, but the system allows only one rescheduling attempt. Visa fee receipts older than one year are considered expired and cannot be used to change appointments.
Guidance for H1B Employers and Applicants
1. Prepare for Extended Travel Disruption
Applicants who travel abroad for visa stamping should anticipate potential delays in their return to the United States. Those with expired visa stamps or first-time H1B issuances should avoid non-essential international travel until capacity stabilizes.
2. Monitor Visa Appointment Portals
Applicants should log in regularly to their scheduling portals to confirm their updated appointment letters and check for new message-center notifications.
3. Understand Rescheduling Constraints
Since only one rescheduling opportunity is permitted, applicants should choose their new date carefully. Missing the reassigned appointment may require a new fee payment.
4. Expect Temporary Reductions in Interview Capacity
Mission India posts may continue limiting interviews while the online presence review is implemented. Additional shifts in appointment availability are possible.
5. Communicate With Employers Early
Employees experiencing lengthy delays in visa issuance should notify their employers promptly to plan for remote work, project scheduling, or other operational adjustments.
Foreign nationals and employers navigating these changes should seek timely legal guidance to avoid travel complications and maintain compliance. Ahluwalia Law Offices continues to monitor all Department of State and USCIS updates affecting employment-based immigration.
If you would like help planning travel, maintaining work authorization, or protecting your status during consular delays, our team is available to assist.
