'End of my career', 'biometrics done, what to do now': Panic spreads as US defers H-1B visa appointments in India

Visa applicants in India Tuesday received messages that their appointment at the consular office this week has been rescheduled. The rescheduled dates are mostly in March 2026 as the immigration office buys time for social media vetting of applicants -- the new rule that kicks in from December 15, 2025 where all social media accounts of applicants will be scrutinized to check if the individual made any negative posts about the US.

Panic spread as the US Embassy in India also confirmed that appointment dates are being rescheduled. "If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date. Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Consulate," the message said.


Social media users said the clarification from the embassy was vague as applicants are left in a lurch, as they don't know what to do until March, and whether their companies in the US will allow them to remain in India till March.

'Stuck in India, end of my career'

A Redditor said the appointment rescheduling will end the career as the US employer would not allow to work remotely. "I am stuck in India, have biometrics this week. I used all my leaves to come for stamping. My employer cannot allow me to work remotely. This is the end of my career, worked so hard to get a job and build my life so far, everything is gone with one single decision. I dont know what to do since it is moved to May 2025, and I will certainly lose my job. This is the end of all my hardwork and dreams," the person wrote.

'Canceled right after I completed biometrics today'

One user said the visa appointment in Chennai consulated scheduled on December 18 got canceled right after their biometrics Tuesday. "This is new uncharted territory for everyone. I think you and everyone else should reach out to your employer and their immigration firms, solicit their advice and come back to this group with the advice provided by the lawyers. Only after a good sample set of advice received from various employers and lawyers, will we able to make sense of what the next steps can be," one wrote. Some applicants said they came to India for that appointment and now they don't know what to do as they can't stay in India until their rescheduled date in 2026.