The US Department of State has widened the scope of social media vetting for H-1B applicants and their dependents, a move that legal experts say has resulted in major processing backlogs at American consulates. Many applicants who had their visa interviews rescheduled from late last year are now being assigned new dates as far out as mid to late 2026. As a result, professionals who travelled to India for routine visa stamping are unable to return to the United States in a timely manner.
Immigration lawyers warn that continued employment with the current sponsoring employer is critical for affected H-1B holders. If a worker loses their job during the delay, finding a new employer willing to file a fresh petition from outside the US can be extremely difficult. Recent fee increases have raised the cost of filing a new H-1B petition to nearly $100,000 in some cases, making employers reluctant to take on the financial burden. Legal experts note that this has effectively trapped some professionals outside the country with limited options.
Emergency visa appointments remain technically available, but attorneys say approvals are rare and largely dependent on whether employers can demonstrate that long-term remote work is not feasible. Many applicants have also been instructed by US consulates not to contact them before their newly assigned interview dates, further limiting avenues for relief.
Legal professionals also point out that visa stamping is only required for re-entry into the United States and not for maintaining lawful H-1B status while inside the country. As a result, attorneys are advising H-1B holders currently in the US to reconsider non-essential international travel until processing backlogs ease and normal interview timelines are restored.
For those already stuck in India without valid visa stamps, waiting for rescheduled interviews may be the only option. The prolonged uncertainty has disrupted careers, housing arrangements, and family plans across borders, with no clear indication of when routine visa processing will return to normal. As expanded screening continues, affected professionals are being urged to plan cautiously and prioritize job continuity amid an increasingly unpredictable immigration landscape.
