As H-1B visa stamping pushed to 2027, Indian-Americans accuse US of targeted discrimination

H-1B delays leave Indian professionals stranded

For thousands of Indian professionals who built their lives in the United States the legal way, a routine visa formality has turned into an open-ended exile. As H-1B visa stamping appointments in India are now being pushed as far as 2027, anxiety is spreading across families who suddenly find themselves locked out of jobs, homes and futures they believed were secure.

Reacting sharply to the delays, Indian-American Advocacy Council co-founder Rajeev Sharma said the move amounted to a direct assault on Indian-Americans who had already earned the right to work in the US and had consistently contributed to its economy. He described the situation as “100% targeting” of Indian professionals, particularly when compared with what he called preferential treatment for other visa categories.

Contrasting Indian H-1B workers with social media creators entering the US on O-1 visas, Sharma said the situation had become indefensible.

“And @POTUS and @JDVance are trading H-1B Indians for OnlyFans models on visas instead. Absolutely pathetic. Qatar and Pakistan really have these two by their hijabs. If they had kept it above board, they would’ve stuck to what was agreed upon back in September, but soft Islamism has crept into this clown administration,” Sharma added.

Sharma traced the current chaos back to the Trump administration’s overhaul of the H-1B programme, which began with a steep hike in visa fees.

“The H-1B overhaul which the Trump administration intended started with the $100k visa fee,” he wrote.

What followed, according to Sharma, was a series of sudden policy shifts that caught thousands of professionals off guard.

“3 months later, surprise visa stamping delays until March 2026 at US consulates in India while people squeezed in a vacation before heading back in January,” Sharma wrote.

Extremely disappointing to see America go down this path. They wanted massive overhaul on H-1B and they did it. They added a $100,000 fee per H-1B visa. The catch was everyone on H-1B currently or on student visa in the US was exempt from this fee back in September 2025.

3… https://t.co/xwciSaqmTkpic.twitter.com/FDwnu8s7ri — Rajeev Sharma (@RajeevSharma00) January 27, 2026

The situation has since deteriorated further.

“Now? Visa stamping delayed until 2027! This is 100% targeting Indian Americans who have already been vetted and done the work of coming here legally to contribute to the US economy. These constantly moving goal posts will ensure job losses for many Indian Americans who trusted this government,” the post read.

What is the current H-1B situation?

The disruption began after December 15, 2025, when the US State Department expanded social media vetting for H-1B applicants and their dependents travelling on H-4 visas. Consular officials were tasked with screening applicants’ online activity, significantly slowing down processing capacity.

As a result, interview slots at US consulates in India began disappearing. Officials could no longer handle the same volume of applications as before, triggering widespread deferrals.

Applicants who appeared for interviews in December were the first to be hit. Many were later informed that their visa stamping appointments had been postponed to April 2026. The rescheduling, however, followed no clear pattern. While some applicants who interviewed in December proceeded without issue, others were pushed months down the line.

In January, the uncertainty deepened when several applicants received fresh notifications stating that their interview dates had now been deferred to 2027, effectively stranding them outside the US.

What is H-1B visa stamping — and why does it matter?

H-1B visa stamping refers to the process of getting the H-1B visa sticker affixed to a passport at a US embassy or consulate outside the United States. Without this stamp, an H-1B holder cannot re-enter the country, even if their job, approval notice and legal status remain valid.

Many H-1B professionals had travelled to India believing they would complete the stamping process quickly, especially as their previous visas were nearing expiry. Instead, they now find themselves unable to return to the US, forced to wait months — or even years — for a new appointment.

For families caught in the backlog, the delays mean more than paperwork. Careers are on hold, employers are losing skilled workers, and children’s schooling and medical care remain in limbo. What was once a predictable administrative step has become, for many Indian-Americans, a life-altering uncertainty.