Since December 8, 2025, U.S. consulates—particularly those in India—have begun mass rescheduling of H-1B and H-4 visa appointments with almost no notice. Interviews that were originally set for December 15, 2025, and later are now being pushed to March, April, and even June 2026. This is not a routine delay. It is a major operational breakdown caused by the State Department’s implementation of the new Online Presence Review, which requires officers to examine social-media and digital footprints for all H-1B workers and their dependents. To accommodate this new vetting, consulates have significantly reduced the number of interviews conducted each day—and applicants are paying the price.

Multiple posts, including Hyderabad, Chennai, Ireland, and Vietnam, have already issued notices telling applicants that they will not be seen on their original appointment date. Biometrics dates remain the same, but interview slots are being reassigned unilaterally. Applicants are allowed to reschedule only once, and any MRV receipt older than one year is now worthless.

The consequences for workers and families are severe. Anyone with an expired visa who chooses to travel for stamping right now is putting themselves at risk of being stranded abroad for four to six months. Employers cannot keep an H-1B role vacant for half a year. Many cannot legally allow remote work from outside the United States due to export-control, payroll, and tax restrictions. This reality means one thing: if an H-1B worker travels now, they may return not to their job but to unemployment. H-4 spouses and children will face the same delays, leading to extended separations and tremendous stress.

I will say it plainly:
This is a poorly planned, poorly implemented policy shift that ignores the practical consequences for legal workers.
You cannot claim to support legal immigration while creating a system that blindsides H-1B families with six-month delays. Labeling this as “operational necessity” does not change the truth: this process reflects a lack of preparation, transparency, and foresight. Enhanced vetting is fine, but rolling it out in a way that effectively shuts down consular processing is reckless. Routine visa renewals should not turn into half-year exiles.

Given the scale of rescheduling and the complete uncertainty surrounding future appointment availability, the strongest advice right now—especially during the holiday travel season—is straightforward:
Do not travel internationally for visa stamping unless you already have a valid visa in your passport.

Even if you have a scheduled appointment, there is a significant chance it will be moved to mid-2026, leaving you stuck abroad with no realistic path to return to work on time.

Monitor your visa portal closely and communicate with your employer, but make no mistake: this is an extremely dangerous time for H-1B and H-4 holders to travel. The risk of job loss, months-long delays, and family hardship is simply too high.

By: Rahul Reddy

Rahul Reddy is the founding partner of Reddy Neumann Brown PC. He founded our firm in 1997 and has over 28 years of experience practicing employment-based immigration. Rahul‘s vast knowledge of the complex immigration system makes him an invaluable resource and an expert in the field. His personal experience with the immigration system has made him empathetic to each of his clients’ cases and empowered him to help others achieve the American Dream.

Rahul‘s dedication to serving the immigrant community is evident, from his daily free conference calls to his weekly immigration Q&As on Facebook and YouTube Live. He is an active member of the immigrant community and one of the founders of ITServe Alliance. He has been a member of American Immigration Lawyers Association since 1995.