Visa slot crunch leaves Indian H-1B applicants stranded

Months after the mass rescheduling of U.S. visa interviews in December, several Indian H-1B and H-4 applicants continue to face uncertainty. Regular appointment slots remain scarce, and applicants say there is little official clarity on when normal visa stamping interviews will resume.

Applicants from Visakhapatnam and nearby districts told The Coastal Times that interview slots have “nearly disappeared” after tighter social media review requirements were introduced. Many families remain split across countries as a result. In several cases, spouses and children are staying back in the U.S., while primary visa holders are stranded in India and unable to return to work.

Applicants said consulates have largely repeated the same advice. They are asked to keep checking official appointment portals, even though regular slots have not opened for weeks.

“There is no predictable access. People cannot plan careers or family responsibilities because there is no confirmed slot and no clear guidance,” said a Visakhapatnam-based immigration documentation consultant.

With routine appointments not available, many applicants are now relying on emergency appointment requests. However, applicants said approvals remain discretionary, and timelines are uncertain.

“Emergency slots are the only option, but there is no assurance. Employees have valid jobs waiting, yet they don’t know when they can return,” said a senior HR professional at a Visakhapatnam-based IT firm.

The prolonged delays have led to financial strain and emotional stress. This is particularly true for those who travelled to India after years for weddings, medical needs, or family obligations.

“This is not a minor delay. Long separation and uncertainty can lead to severe anxiety and chronic stress,” said psychologist Dr. P. Ravindra Kumar of Visakhapatnam.

Some employers have permitted temporary remote work from India. But applicants said this is difficult to extend because Labour Condition Application norms and role-location restrictions limit flexibility.

Applicants also reported little progress after approaching U.S. Congressional offices. Legal observers said prolonged disruption could prompt employers to explore collective legal remedies, including litigation, if business impact increases.

For now, applicants continue to monitor portals daily, with no clear indication of when regular H-1B and H-4 interview slots will return at scale.