Since mid-December 2025, U.S. consular posts in India have cancelled and rescheduled many H-1B visa appointments. In addition, new appointment availability remains extremely limited across posts in India. Appointment availability remains severely constrained. Many applicants report that no slots are visible in the system, even after monitoring the calendar repeatedly throughout the day. These disruptions appear to coincide with new Department of State vetting requirements that took effect in mid-December 2025. Regardless of the underlying cause, the practical result is the same: significant delays for H-1B visa stamping in India and extended time abroad for many employees.
In response to the cancellations, Mission India implemented an Emergency Request (ER) process intended to allow applicants to seek earlier appointments. While some applicants have reportedly received approvals, the system has been inconsistent and difficult to navigate. If an ER is approved, the applicant is typically given only a short window—often ten days—to secure a new appointment. However, even with an approved ER, appointment slots may not be available within that timeframe. Although posts in India traditionally allow only one ER submission, there have been instances where second requests were accepted after an initial denial. That said, applicants should treat the first submission as their strongest opportunity and ensure it is carefully prepared.
Because ER approvals require rebooking within a short period, applicants may need to monitor the system multiple times daily. In some cases, contacting the post through its official inquiry system may be necessary to document the inability to schedule within the allotted time. Unfortunately, there is no immediate remedy for the broader backlog. As a result, H-1B employees should anticipate the possibility of extended stays abroad and employers should plan accordingly.
Each consular post has its own expedite criteria and procedures. Before submitting an expedite request, applicants should carefully review the specific post’s website instructions. In general, an expedite explanation should be concise and direct, especially where the online form has character limits, and the core justification must be clearly stated in the text box itself because officers often will not look to supporting documents to find a reason that is not plainly articulated in the request. For India, it is usually advisable to include a short employer letter describing the concrete business impact of the delay. Medical emergencies tend to be the most persuasive basis, but significant business disruption, operational loss, or an urgent need to return for critical projects may also support an expedite request, and if U.S. citizen children are affected, school return timelines can be noted where relevant. Because some posts limit the number of expedite attempts, the first submission should be the strongest and most strategically drafted version possible.
Some individuals have inquired about applying as a third-country national (TCN) outside India. While U.S. regulations allow a person physically present in a consular district to apply there, Department of State guidance emphasizes that applicants should generally apply in their country of nationality or residence. Even where third-country processing is technically permissible, it carries meaningful risks, including extremely limited appointment availability, the possibility that the post may exercise its discretion not to accept the case, the risk that a refusal or administrative processing could leave the applicant stranded in a country where they do not have long-term lawful status, and the reality that consular policies and practices can change without notice.
If you are an H-1B employee or employer facing an appointment cancellation, careful documentation, strategic expedite submissions, and conservative travel planning are critical. The situation remains fluid, and flexibility is essential.
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