Indian H-1B holders stranded after US cancels interviews: What has caused the ‘biggest mess’ in visa renewals this winter

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Hundreds, and possibly thousands, of Indian professionals working in the United States on H-1B visas are facing an unexpected crisis after travelling to India in December for routine visa renewals. What was meant to be a short holiday-season trip has turned into months of uncertainty, with American consulates cancelling interviews at short notice and pushing fresh dates far into the future.

According to The Washington Post, visa interviews scheduled between December 15 and December 26 were abruptly cancelled across multiple US missions in India. Many applicants later discovered that their rescheduled appointments had been pushed to mid-2026, with some cases reportedly moved as far as 2027. Immigration attorneys described the situation as unprecedented. “This is the biggest mess we have seen,” India-based immigration lawyer Veena Vijay Ananth told the newspaper, adding, “I’m not sure there is a plan.”

At the centre of the disruption is a policy shift under the Donald Trump administration that expanded social media and online presence screening for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants. The US State Department told applicants that interviews were delayed due to the rollout of these enhanced checks, which it says are aimed at national security and public safety.

A State Department spokesperson explained the new approach to Business Insider, saying, “While in the past the emphasis may have been on processing cases quickly and reducing wait times, our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, are now prioritising thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else.”

The fallout has been severe for workers who timed their travel around the US holiday season, traditionally a popular window for visa renewals. Many are now stranded in India on expired visas, unable to return to their jobs, spouses or children in the US. Lawyers told the Washington Post they are handling dozens of such cases each, with some firms advising more than 100 affected clients.

The personal toll is growing. Some parents are debating whether to keep children out of school in India or send them back to the US alone. Others face unpaid leave as savings dwindle. Online forums have filled with anxious posts from doctors, engineers and consultants warning that patient care, projects and businesses are already being disrupted.

India is particularly affected because its nationals dominate the H-1B programme. An April 2025 report from US Citizenship and Immigration Services showed that Indians account for 71 percent of all H-1B holders. Major sponsors include Amazon, Meta and Microsoft.

The interview chaos follows a series of tightening measures. In July, third-country and remote renewals were scrapped, forcing applicants to return home. In September, a new executive order imposed a USD 100,000 fee on fresh H-1B applications. Lawyers warn that prolonged absence could force employers to restart applications, triggering that fee. “No company is paying that,” Emily Neumann of a Houston-based immigration firm told the Washington Post.

Some attorneys see a deeper political signal. “Social media is the excuse,” Atlanta-based lawyer Charles Kuck said. “But the reason is the extraordinary rise in attacks on the H-1B programme.”