Indian professionals in the United States are facing fresh uncertainty under the Donald Trump administration, as US consulates across India have pushed H-1B visa-stamping interviews to 2027, disrupting
travel plans and work arrangements for thousands of workers.
Visa offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata currently have no regular interview slots available.
The delays started in December 2025, when consulates rescheduled interviews planned for that month to March 2026. Officials later moved those appointments to October 2026. Many of them have now been pushed further to 2027, creating a growing backlog.
Changes to the H-1B programme
The delays come as the United States reshapes the H-1B visa programme. On December 29, 2025, US Citizenship and Immigration Services published new rules for the 2027 fiscal year. The annual cap remains 85,000 visas, including 20,000 set aside for applicants with US postgraduate degrees.
Under the revised system, more weight will be given to salary and experience levels in the lottery. Employers filing petitions for Level IV workers will receive four lottery entries. Level III workers will get three entries, Level II workers two, and Level I workers one. The lottery is due to open in early March.
Stricter checks slow processing
Policy changes have also added to the delays. On December 15, 2025, the US introduced mandatory social media screening for employment-based visa applicants. This has increased the time needed to process each case and reduced the number of interviews consulates can conduct daily.
The US State Department has also ended the option that allowed Indian nationals to seek visa stamping in third countries. This has pushed all demand back to Indian consulates, further worsening the backlog.
Impact on employers
US employers are already feeling the impact. Technology firms, healthcare providers and educational institutions depend heavily on H-1B professionals for specialised roles. Extended absences have delayed projects, disrupted teams and increased costs.
Some companies are allowing limited remote work or temporarily shifting responsibilities. Others, including Indian IT firms with operations in the US, have stepped up hiring of American citizens to reduce risk.
Concerns over talent flow
Immigration experts warn that long delays could weaken the United States’ ability to attract global talent. They point out that other countries are simplifying skilled-worker visa processes, making them more attractive to international professionals.
