NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Thousands of Indian professionals across sectors—including technology, healthcare, engineering, research, and academia—are facing months of uncertainty after the U.S. Embassy and consulates in India abruptly rescheduled confirmed H-1B and H-4 visa appointments. Many December 2025 slots have now been pushed to dates as late as July 2026, leaving workers and their families confronting unexpected travel and employment disruptions.
The rescheduling wave comes just days before the December 15 rollout of expanded “online presence review” protocols, a security measure that examines an applicant’s digital footprint. A U.S. Embassy spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that the enhanced vetting, previously applied mostly to student visa categories, will now extend to all H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents. The spokesperson said the new checks are intended to ensure applicants “do not pose a risk to the safety and security of the United States” and that authorities “will take the time necessary” to complete them.
While the Embassy cited “resource availability” for the sudden shift, applicants began receiving rescheduling emails earlier this week, many with new interview dates six to seven months away. The Mission also issued an advisory on X urging applicants not to arrive on their original December dates, noting they would be denied entry at Embassy or consulate gates.
Immigration attorneys say the timing suggests the Mission is preparing for a surge in mandatory digital-footprint evaluations once the new protocols take effect. Cases requiring additional interagency checks—even for minor screening flags—can significantly extend processing times, and India handles more H-1B volume than any other country.
Although Indian IT professionals form the largest share of global H-1B holders and dominate public discussion around the delays, the impact extends well beyond the tech sector. Physicians completing U.S. residencies, biomedical researchers, engineers, financial analysts, university staff, and other highly skilled workers also rely on H-1B visas and now face the same uncertainty.
For families caught in the disruption, the consequences are immediate. Some workers risk missing return-to-work deadlines; dependent children could face school interruptions; and H-4 spouses waiting to renew work authorization may lose employment if stamping delays prevent timely extensions. Employers in multiple industries are now reviewing travel guidance as predictable processing windows collapse.
The Embassy has not announced any special procedures for applicants facing job-related hardship, and emergency appointments remain limited to life-or-death situations. Interview waivers for eligible renewals have also not been expanded.
Industry observers warn that prolonged delays could spill into the 2026 H-1B cap season, particularly for applicants transitioning from student to employment visas or moving between employers. For now, with the December 15 protocol change approaching, thousands of professionals across fields remain in limbo, waiting for further clarification from U.S. consular officials.
