Candidates for H-1B and H-4 visas are dealing with surprising and extended delays in US visa interview appointments, with some now being pushed again by greater than a yr, in accordance with immigration lawyer Gnanamookan Senthurjothi, as reported by The American Bazaar.Senthurjothi mentioned that a number of candidates who had initially secured interview slots for January 2026 at US consulates have been not too long ago notified that their appointments had been rescheduled to February, March and April 2027 as an alternative. In some circumstances, the change was made with none clear or formal clarification from consular posts.“The worrying half is that many candidates weren’t correctly knowledgeable,” Senthurjothi instructed The American Bazaar. “They logged into the system solely to find that their interview dates had been pushed again by over a yr.”The delays are affecting each H-1B expert staff and H-4 dependents, together with spouses and kids. Lots of these impacted are professionals already employed in the US who want visa stamping to journey or re-enter the nation. Others are households ready to reunite after lengthy durations aside.In line with Senthurjothi, the backlog seems to be linked to staffing shortages at US embassies, elevated safety checks and a continued surge in visa demand. He mentioned that the US authorities has acknowledged processing delays, however the lack of transparency has left candidates confused.“These delays have severe real-world penalties,” he mentioned. “Individuals are suspending journey, household emergencies and even profession alternatives as a result of they can’t danger being caught outdoors the US.”Senthurjothi suggested candidates to usually monitor their appointment portals for earlier slots, use emergency appointment requests the place eligible and keep away from non-essential worldwide journey if their visa standing is unsure. He additionally urged employers to be versatile with affected staff.The difficulty will stretch into prolonged delays and will disrupt US companies that rely closely on expert international staff. Many are calling on the US State Division to increase interview capability and supply clearer communication to candidates.
