US pushes H-1B and H-4 visa interviews to late 2026: What's behind the move and what Indian applicants can expect

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Hundreds of Indian professionals waiting for their US H-1B and H-4 visa interviews are facing fresh uncertainty after their appointments were reportedly postponed to as late as October 2026. The delays come after earlier rescheduling to February and March 2026, leaving many applicants confused and anxious about their future.

According to Deccan Chronicle, several applicants said their interview dates were shifted from early 2026 to October next year. The US-based outlet The American Bazaar also reported that immigration lawyers have encountered cases where interviews initially scheduled for mid-January 2026 were moved to October 2026.

In response, some affected applicants are now urging those with interview slots in January and February 2026 to cancel their appointments. They hope this will free up earlier slots and allow rescheduled cases to be pulled back to sooner dates.

Over the past few weeks, US consulates have informed many applicants that interviews originally scheduled for December and January have been deferred to February or March. US authorities have linked the delays to the need for extra processing time following the expansion of social media screening for visa applicants.

Immigration attorneys told The American Bazaar that the scale and speed of the cancellations have increased sharply since mid-December. Applicants who believed their appointments were locked in for early 2026 are now being pushed to the last quarter of the year.

“The Department of State regularly shifts appointments as needed to match resource availability. We will communicate any changes directly to affected visa applicants,” a spokesperson for the US Consulate General in Hyderabad said, according to Deccan Chronicle.

The impact has been severe for many professionals, particularly those who are currently outside the United States. Several applicants had already booked flights, taken leave from work, or travelled to India for visa stamping, only to discover that their appointments had been cancelled or no longer existed.

Scores of professionals now find themselves stranded, separated from their families in the US, with limited options to return. For some, jobs are at risk as employers struggle to accommodate prolonged absences.

“Despite limited legal action immediately available, the better option for affected applicants would be to plead with employers for remote work or leave, if that’s possible,” Sangeetha Mugunthan, an associate attorney at Somireddy Law Group PLLC, told The American Bazaar.

Mugunthan added, “...a direct legal action against the cancellation itself is tough. I would advice applicants to document everything to avoid potential job loss or visa issues that can arise later.”

As news of the latest postponements spread, Indian expat forums and messaging groups were flooded with anxiety and frustration. Many applicants described living under constant uncertainty, while others questioned whether the United States still offers a stable long-term future.

The latest disruptions come after a series of visa-related challenges for Indians. Earlier this year, delays in F-1 student visa processing affected college admission timelines. More recently, proposals to raise work visa fees unsettled the H-1B community.

Now, with H-1B and H-4 interview appointments being pushed into late 2026, hundreds of Indian professionals say their careers and family lives are hanging in the balance, with no clear timeline or assurance from authorities.