Hopes that U.S. consulates in India had finally tamed their notorious visa backlogs were dashed this weekend when the U.S. Department of State confirmed interview wait times of “up to 12 months” for several categories, including the H-1B work visa critical to India’s tech sector. A department spokesperson told Business Insider on 21 December 2025 that new global security directives—effective 15 December—require consular officers to vet applicants’ social-media history across platforms such as X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.
Mission India accordingly rescheduled thousands of December appointments to dates stretching into early 2026. Applicants received overnight e-mails instructing them not to appear on original dates, warning that entry to consulates would be denied. Immigration lawyers report panic among professionals who flew home for year-end stamping and now face job jeopardy if they cannot return to the U.S. on time.
For applicants trying to salvage travel plans, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) tracks shifting appointment calendars, assists with DS-160 form preparation and document submission, and can even advise on alternate-country filings—giving both travellers and HR teams a reliable back-up when consular schedules go awry.
![Twelve-month wait times return as U.S. tightens visa screening for Indian applicants]()
Indian IT majors and U.S. multinationals employing large H-1B cohorts must brace for staffing gaps and project delays. Companies are advised to trigger remote-work contingencies, shift assignments to Canada or Mexico where feasible, and prioritise Blanket L-1 or Interview Waiver Programme options for eligible staff. U.S. employers should also review travel roofs in assignment letters: employees stuck in India for reasons beyond their control may trigger force-majeure clauses.
The State Department insists the measures are essential for national security, citing rising misuse of work and study visas. However, industry lobby NASSCOM argues that Indians received 73 % of all H-1Bs in FY 2025 and extended delays will “hamper bilateral innovation ecosystems.” The U.S. embassy says it is ramping up staffing but gave no timeline for backlog reduction.
Until clarity emerges, mobility managers should counsel travellers to defer non-urgent trips to India, monitor consular Twitter feeds for pop-up appointments, and ensure expatriates hold valid advance parole or re-entry permits before leaving the United States.
Mission India accordingly rescheduled thousands of December appointments to dates stretching into early 2026. Applicants received overnight e-mails instructing them not to appear on original dates, warning that entry to consulates would be denied. Immigration lawyers report panic among professionals who flew home for year-end stamping and now face job jeopardy if they cannot return to the U.S. on time.
For applicants trying to salvage travel plans, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) tracks shifting appointment calendars, assists with DS-160 form preparation and document submission, and can even advise on alternate-country filings—giving both travellers and HR teams a reliable back-up when consular schedules go awry.
Indian IT majors and U.S. multinationals employing large H-1B cohorts must brace for staffing gaps and project delays. Companies are advised to trigger remote-work contingencies, shift assignments to Canada or Mexico where feasible, and prioritise Blanket L-1 or Interview Waiver Programme options for eligible staff. U.S. employers should also review travel roofs in assignment letters: employees stuck in India for reasons beyond their control may trigger force-majeure clauses.
The State Department insists the measures are essential for national security, citing rising misuse of work and study visas. However, industry lobby NASSCOM argues that Indians received 73 % of all H-1Bs in FY 2025 and extended delays will “hamper bilateral innovation ecosystems.” The U.S. embassy says it is ramping up staffing but gave no timeline for backlog reduction.
Until clarity emerges, mobility managers should counsel travellers to defer non-urgent trips to India, monitor consular Twitter feeds for pop-up appointments, and ensure expatriates hold valid advance parole or re-entry permits before leaving the United States.
