H-1B interviews delayed to 2026: India travel could cost jobs for visa holders

• US postponed H-1B visa interviews for December, rescheduling them to March, April, or May 2026.
• Immigration attorneys warn Indian H-1B visa holders against international travel for stamping, as it could lead to job loss due to inability to return to the US.
• Many H-1B holders who traveled to India for December appointments are now stranded, unable to return to their US jobs without a new visa stamp.
• The postponements are attributed to new US State Department rules requiring expanded social media screening for H-1B and H-4 applicants.
• Employers cannot legally allow long-term remote work from outside the US, putting stranded H-1B workers at risk of unemployment.

Why It Matters: US visa interview delays put H-1B jobs at risk for Indian travelers.