3 hours ago
No regular slot for H-1B visa stamping has opened in India in over 100 days, and no slots are available for 2026.
With no solution to the ongoing H-1B visa crisis in India caused by stamping delays, the Indian-American community has voiced their concerns and urged the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to stop using Indian immigrants as political leverage.
Sidharth, an Indian-origin investor and founder of the Indian-American Advocacy Council, stated that it has been more than 100 days since a single regular H-1B appointment slot was released in India. Currently, all five U.S. consulates in India have zero availability for regular H-1B visa stamping appointments, with the earliest available dates pushed to 2027. "Thousands are stranded. Families torn apart. Careers destroyed," the statement read. "They followed every rule. Filed every form. Paid every fee. And the system is punishing them for visiting their parents," it added.
Current Situation of Visa Stamping Delays in India
The crisis began around mid-December 2025 when new social media vetting rules for H-1B visa holders were implemented. Considering the year-end vacation period, many Indians traveled back to India to update their visa stamping. While the visa itself does not become invalid without stamping, they cannot re-enter the U.S. without it. After traveling, many were informed that their appointment dates, initially scheduled for December 2025, were deferred to March-April 2026.
This deferral occurred because consulates reduced the number of daily appointments to accommodate social media background checks on visa holders. This caused a massive backlog, with all available appointments in 2026 already booked by deferred cases. The latest update confirms that no new regular appointment dates have opened for 2026.
Thousands of H-1B visa holders remain stranded in India with no clear resolution in sight. Legal departments of U.S. employers are uncertain about how to manage employees stuck abroad. Some companies, such as Amazon, have allowed affected H-1B visa holders to work remotely from India, but this unprecedented situation has created numerous complications. Many individuals face the risk of losing their jobs, U.S. property leases, and other critical ties.
