A recent decision linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies has delayed H-1B visa interview dates for thousands of Indian professionals until 2027. The postponement raises concerns about potential job losses and disruptions for workers relying on these visas.
Thousands of Indian professionals working in the United States are facing the risk of losing their jobs. The backlog for visa stamping interviews at the U.S. embassy has extended all the way to 2027, leaving thousands of Indians stuck while waiting for their interviews.
A move by the Trump administration regarding H-1B visas has put thousands of Indian professionals in a difficult situation. The decision has separated many people from their families and jobs in the United States. The situation began in December 2025, when the Trump administration’s sudden policy increased the backlog for H-1B visa-stamping interviews at U.S. embassies in India. According to immigration experts, visa interviews at the U.S. embassy have now been postponed until 2027, leaving thousands of professionals working for American companies stranded in India.
Originally scheduled for December 2025, the visa interviews were first postponed to March 2026, then to October, and now have been pushed back all the way to 2027. As a result, Indian professionals who came to India for their interviews are now forced to stay longer. These are Indians who are already working in the U.S. on H-1B visas and were seeking to extend them.
Indian H-1B Workers Face Challenges Returning to U.S
Immigration experts say there is little chance of the situation improving soon. They are advising H-1B employees currently in the U.S. to avoid traveling to India for visa stamping, as interview dates continue to be pushed back. Emily Newman, a partner at a Houston-based immigration firm, told our partner TOI that in the past 50 days, they have not received any information about new visa interview slots opening for India.
Newman advised that H-1B professionals currently in the U.S. should not even attempt to schedule appointments for visa stamping in India. She said, “They are in no hurry to issue visas. Whenever possible, they are trying to deny visas. This is completely different from what we saw under the Biden administration. This administration does not want to give you a visa.
What is Causing the Delay in H-1B Visa Stamping Interviews?
In recent months, no new visa interview dates have been available at U.S. embassies in India. Regular interview slots at the embassies in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata have run out, forcing existing appointments to be rescheduled as far out as 2027.
According to reports, this backlog is the result of a policy implemented on December 15, 2025. Under the new rules, social media screening has become mandatory for all employment-based visa applicants. The additional scrutiny for each applicant has increased processing times, significantly reducing the number of interviews that can be conducted daily.
