Important Update: H-1B and H-4 Visa Interview Changes in India

The U.S. Department of State just rolled out a new policy that’s reshuffling H-1B and H-4 visa interviews across India starting December 15, 2025. Consulates have begun canceling existing appointments and moving them out by several months—many now landing in March 2026 or later. This change is tied to new “online presence reviews” and expanded social media checks for applicants. Because of the extra screening, consulates are cutting down the number of interviews they hold each day, which means fewer slots and sudden rescheduling notices. Right now, this only affects U.S. consulates in India—no similar reports have come from other countries. If your H-1B or H-4 interview is set in India on or after December 15, keep a close eye on your email for updates. If you get a rescheduling notice, show up only on your new date—arriving on the original day won’t get you in. Applicants and their dependents who have H-1B/H-4 interviews scheduled in India on or after December 15, 2025, should closely monitor the email address used in their visa application for possible cancellation or rescheduling notices from the embassy or consulate they applied at. If you are in that scenario and receive a rescheduling email, you must attend only on the new date. According to the policy, applicants who appear on the original date will not being allowed into the consulate. If you have travel plans, especially year-end or early-2026 trips for visa stamping, we strongly recommend reviewing to determine whether you really need to go, as some people are now facing delays of several months stuck outside the US before they can obtain a new visa stamp. We’re monitoring the situation and will share updates as more information comes in. If you are already stuck outside the US, or if you have travel planned and/or an upcoming H-1B/H-4 visa appointment in India, you should discuss a contingency plan with your employer in case you end up needing to stay outside the US for an extended period.