US Embassy in India issues advisory on visa appointment dates: What it means for applicants and how to check your new slot

US Embassy in India issues advisory on visa appointment dates

The US Embassy in India has issued a strict advisory telling visa applicants not to arrive at consular offices on their original interview dates if they have already received a rescheduling notice. The mission said applicants who ignore the updated appointment and show up on the earlier date will be denied entry.

In an announcement posted on X, the Embassy stated: “If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date. Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate.”

ATTENTION VISA APPLICANTS - If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date. Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied…

— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) December 9, 2025

The clarification comes as US consular posts continue to adjust appointment calendars across categories, affecting applicants nationwide. The move aims to avoid crowding and confusion at embassies and consulates.

Visa interview availability has seen dramatic fluctuations in recent weeks. In New Delhi, the next available F, M, and J visa appointments have dropped from nearly two months to around half a month. The capital has also recorded a major improvement in B-1/B-2 wait times, now approximately 3.5 months instead of the previous 6.5-month delay.

Chennai has shown inconsistent patterns, with B-1/B-2 appointments—which once involved about a five-month wait—now listed as “N/A.” Interview-required visa categories that earlier showed a five-month delay are currently available with an estimated three-month wait time.

In Mumbai, long delays persist. Both the average and next available B-1/B-2 appointments stand at 9.5 months, while student and exchange visa applicants (F, M, J) are being scheduled in roughly three months.

Hyderabad’s B-1/B-2 appointments are available in around five months, and F, M, and J visas in about 2.5 months. Employment-based categories (H, L, O, P, Q) are currently being allotted at a two-month wait. Kolkata has mixed numbers, with B-1/B-2 interview waits near 4.5 months and next availability around five months.

The advisory comes at a time of major visa rule changes. From December 15, the US government will start mandatory online presence reviews for H-1B applicants and their H-4 dependents. Under the new system, applicants must switch their social-media profiles to a public setting to enable officer screening.

The US State Department has emphasised that a visa is “a privilege and not a right,” adding that “Every visa adjudication is a national security decision.” It reiterated that the US “must be vigilant” to ensure applicants do not pose risks.

Because the enhanced vetting process requires additional time, many H-1B and H-4 appointments scheduled for mid- and late-December have been cancelled and moved to as late as March 2026. Consular posts have also reduced the number of daily interviews, creating a wave of rescheduling that has disrupted travel and relocation plans for thousands of applicants.

• The State Department calculates months in 30-day increments and half months in 15-day increments
• Includes weekends and embassy holidays
• Applicants should check the scheduling portal frequently for slots