ALERT: Extreme H-1B and H-4 Visa Delays in India

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December 9, 2025

Beginning December 8^th, U.S. Consulates in India began rescheduling many H-1B and H-4 visa appointments that had been set for December 15^th or later. If you have an existing H visa appointment in India scheduled for 12/15/2025 or later, please log in to your visa appointment profile to check for updated appointment letters. If your appointment has not been rescheduled, please continue to check back as your appointment date approaches.

It is not clear how many H-1B and H-4 appointments are being rescheduled, but there are reports that new appointments are being set as far out as March 2026 and later. Those already in India without a valid visa stamp and awaiting delayed visa appointments will be unable to return to the United States until they have secured new visas.

Given how this mass postponing of visa appointments was implemented with no advance warning , as well as the recent travel ban and related restrictions for many impacted foreign nationals, we strongly discourage ALL Foreign Nationals in the United States from elective international travel.

This is particularly important for those who would need to obtain a new visa before re-entering the United States. Between: a) the uncertainty surrounding the timing and the overall viability of the visa application process; b) the possibility that other U.S. Consulates around the world will adapt a similar rescheduling scheme; and, c) the possibility of more unannounced policy shifts that could be harmful to visa holders and cause unanticipated delays, we cannot recommend foreign travel for U.S. visa holders at this time. If you plan to apply for a new visa abroad despite this advice, please be in touch with your immigration attorney in advance.

Risks remain for international travel even for those with valid visa stamps to return to the United States. Immigration policies under this administration are very fluid and change very quickly without notice. Moreover, the administration has a list of travel ban countries already in place, and this list could be extended at any time without much or even any advance notice. If you are outside of the U.S. during such a policy roll-out, your ability to re-enter the U.S. could be severely impacted even if you have a valid visa stamp in your passport.

FAQ

What is the explanation for the delays?

The Department of State has announced new online presence (i.e. social media) review requirements for H visa holders. In emails to affected applicants, the U.S. Consulates in Chennai and Hyderabad claim that, due to “operational constraints related to processing these visas and to ensure that no applicants issued a visa pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety, the U.S. Consulate in Chennai must reduce the number of applicants each day.”

Is the social media review limited to H visa applicants in India?

No. The Department of State is instituting this review on 12/15/2025 for all H visa applicants anywhere in the world. It is possible that only the Consulates in India will react by mass-rescheduling existing appointments, but there is no reason to assume that – thus the advice that all Foreign Nationals avoid international travel if they would need a new visa to re-enter the U.S.

How is the social media review conducted? What sorts of posts might cause my visa application to be denied?

Applicants will be asked to make all of their social accounts public, so that the Consular Officer can review their profiles, posts, direct messages, etc. Standards for passing this review have not been made public, but reports indicate that officers are flagging:

Hostility towards the United States, interpreted to include critiques of the current presidential administration.
Support for radical groups or ideologies (which may be broadly defined).
History of political activism or work in sensitive online roles such as content moderation and fact-checking.

If my visa appointment is rescheduled, will my biometrics appointment also be rescheduled?

No. Visa Application Center (VAC) biometrics appointments have not been affected, and should be attended as scheduled.

I cannot attend my rescheduled appointment. Can I reschedule it?

Yes, you can do so online; however, you will only be permitted to reschedule the appointment one time. When rescheduling, please note also that fee receipts expire after one year.

I need to get my visa urgently. Can I request an emergency appointment?

Once you have an appointment, you can request an earlier emergency appointment through your visa appointment profile online. However, please note that emergency requests are frequently denied.

TAGS: Department of State, DOS, H-1B, H-4, India