Indian professionals looking for H-1B visas are going through lengthy delays, with interviews and visa stamping for each new candidates and transfers now being pushed from early 2026 into late 2026. The scenario left many employees caught in India for months, and worse was the profession disruption and employer endurance that got here together with the problem, in keeping with American Ed-tech chair and investor Hany Girgis.“What was meant to be a U.S.-based work visa is quietly turning into offshore work by default… with out the associated fee financial savings,” Girgis mentioned on X. He mentioned that employees can legally proceed working for US employers from India if permitted, however the prolonged delays could take a look at employer endurance.In line with American Bazaar, candidates and visa monitoring knowledge point out that many January 2026 interview slots at US consulates in India have now been deferred to as late as September 2026.Immigration lawyer Rajiv Khanna mentioned, “H-1B India January visa appointments are being pushed to September.” The backlog impacts first-time H-1B candidates in addition to employees looking for renewals after travelling overseas.The delays have worsened in current weeks, with a number of H-1B and H-4 visa interviews scheduled for December 2025 being cancelled or postponed to March 2026. US consular posts attribute the modifications to a brand new on-line presence evaluate course of for H-1B and H-4 candidates that took impact on December 15.“There isn’t a lot that may be achieved as a result of this administration has created a systemic downside that seems deliberate. What was the intense emergency that the social media vetting coverage needed to be modified and other people’s lives upended in a single day? This has turn out to be a common downside for H-1B staff making use of in India,” Khanna mentioned. He additionally flagged insurance policies underneath the Trump administration that candidates can solely apply for a visa from their nation of nationality or residence, and the way it places strains on employers and staff.The prolonged wait occasions pressured employees to delay becoming a member of dates, journey plans, and job switches, affecting each people and US companies.Some candidates have requested whether or not they can legally proceed working whereas ready in India. Khanna confirmed, “One of many key points I’ve been requested about is, can we work whereas we’re in India? The reply is sure.” He cautioned employees to adjust to native tax laws whereas working remotely.These delays come alongside modifications to the H-1B programme underneath the GOP authorities. Earlier in 2025, US authorities narrowed the definition of specialty occupations, imposed stricter diploma necessities, and added compliance obligations for employers. A one-time $100,000 payment on new H-1B petitions and expanded social media checks for digital footprint. All these components mixed have slowed processing, creating hurdles for Indian IT professionals.
