Indian professionals and their families seeking to travel to or return to the United States are confronting severe and unexpected delays in securing visa interview appointments, with some slots being rescheduled by more than a year. This significant backlog is causing major disruptions for skilled workers on H-1B visas and their H-4 dependent spouses and children.
Appointments Abruptly Pushed to 2027
According to prominent immigration lawyer Gnanamookan Senthurjothi, numerous applicants who had initially secured coveted interview dates at US consulates for January 2026 have recently received shocking updates. Their appointments have been unilaterally moved to February, March, and April of 2027. In many instances, this drastic change was implemented without any formal communication or clear explanation from the consular posts.
"The worrying part is that many applicants were not properly informed," Senthurjothi stated in a report by The American Bazaar. "They logged into the system only to discover that their interview dates had been pushed back by over a year." This lack of transparency has left a vast number of applicants in a state of confusion and anxiety.
Causes and Real-World Consequences
The attorney pointed to a combination of factors creating this perfect storm of delays. These include staffing shortages at US embassies and consulates, heightened security verification procedures, and an unrelenting surge in global visa demand. While the US government has acknowledged general processing delays, the specific, extreme postponements have caught many off guard.
The impact of these delays extends far beyond mere scheduling inconvenience. "These delays have serious real-world consequences," Senthurjothi emphasized. Affected individuals are being forced to postpone critical travel plans, miss family emergencies, and even forgo career opportunities because they cannot risk leaving the United States and being unable to re-enter. The situation is particularly stressful for families separated across continents, awaiting reunion.
Expert Advice for Affected Applicants
In light of these challenges, Senthurjothi offered crucial guidance for those caught in the backlog:
- Regularly monitor the official visa appointment portal for any earlier slots that may open up due to cancellations.
- Utilize the emergency appointment request system if you have a genuine, qualifying reason such as a medical crisis.
- Avoid all non-essential international travel if your current visa status is in flux or requires stamping for re-entry.
He also urged employers in the United States to exhibit flexibility with their H-1B employees who are impacted by these consular delays. The broader implication is a potential disruption for US businesses that depend on skilled foreign talent, highlighting a systemic issue that many argue requires immediate attention from the US State Department. Calls are growing for the department to expand interview capacity and establish clearer, more proactive communication channels with applicants.
