H-1B delays push lives into limbo as fresh social media checks stall approvals

Appointments for H-1B visa applications are being rescheduled to as late as 2027, pushing the wait time to over a year, as scrutiny is stepped up, affecting thousands of submissions. The impact is pronounced for Indians as an estimated three-fourths of all H-1B visas go to people of Indian origin.

Over the last few days, US consular appointments in December have been cancelled and rescheduled to 2026. Now, many who have booked H-1B appointments in early 2026 are seeing their appointments moved to 2027, say immigration experts. This follows the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) directive to extend social media vetting to H-1B and H4 applicants, dependents of the former category, effective December 15.

With the new layer of scrutiny added, experts said consulates need time to evaluate the digital footprint and this would mean fewer daily interviews until processes are in place. Gnanamookan Senthurjothi, founder of The Visa Code, said some of his clients’ appointments scheduled for January 2026 had been pushed back as far as April 2027.


Several people have said on social media this has happened to them too. Since the Donald Trump administration took over earlier this year, multiple measures have been introduced to keep H-1B visas in check. This includes a $100,000 fee for new applications from September 21.

Business impact

In 2024, Indians accounted for 71% of all H-1B visas issued and are employed across companies in the US. Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Google were the top five H-1B employers in 2025, according to USCIS data. Those impacted include people who have H-1B petitions approved, both fresh and renewals, but need to travel to India to get their passports stamped with the visa.

“This is a catastrophe and a major challenge to employee mobility,” said Sukanya Raman, country head, Davies & Associates LLC. She said that the companies are asking employees to return to the US immediately if they have an approved extension petition and the visa is still valid for a few days only. These developments take place at a time of uncertainty over tech jobs in the US, where layoffs are rampant. Not many companies will be willing to spend the $100,000 fee on fresh H-1B petitions.

Experts said there is no legal solution. “Affected employees are left with limited options, working remotely where permitted, or taking unpaid leave if earlier appointment dates are unavailable,” Raman said. December is when most Indian nationals travel home and the sudden rollout of a major policy change has forced them to cancel those plans.

Lack of clarity

Senthurjothi said this has forced many of his company’s clients to put their lives on hold. “Four of my clients had their wedding and engagement scheduled in early 2026. But their visa appointments are now pushed to 2027, which has left them in a tough situation,” he said. For many Indians who are already in the country for visa appointments, this might mean a longer stay.

For example, a techie working in the US had come to India for a parent’s surgery in early December and to have his H-1B visa stamped. With the appointment pushed to 2026, he’s been forced to stay back and is worried about his job in the US. There is no clarity on whether applications can be expedited and rescheduled to an earlier timeline. “At this point, it is a wait-andwatch situation,” said Raman.