H-1B Visa Stamping Delays Extend to 2027, Disrupting Indian Professionals’ Travel Plans
Indian professionals employed in the US are facing significant delays in H-1B visa stamping, as no new interview slots are available for the remainder of 2026. New appointments are now being deferred into 2027, disrupting travel and work plans for many.
Visa offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata have stopped displaying regular interview availability. Immigration attorney Emily Neumann noted on X that no new interview slots for India have opened in the past 50 days. She warned H-1B visa holders currently in the US against traveling to India for stamping.
Impact on Indian Workers
H-1B professionals play a critical role in US industries such as technology, healthcare, and higher education. Prolonged travel restrictions are causing project delays, disrupting team dynamics, and increasing operational costs. Some companies are allowing limited remote work or temporarily redistributing tasks, while others—particularly Indian IT firms with large US operations—are hiring more American workers to maintain continuity.
The annual H-1B visa cap remains at 85,000, including 20,000 reserved for US-based postgraduate degree holders. Recent changes to the lottery system now place greater emphasis on salary and experience levels.
Understanding ‘NA’ in the Appointment System
The US Department of State’s official website shows the next available appointment as ‘NA’ for visa categories requiring interviews, including H, L, O, P, and Q. This indicates that no standard slots are available. Once all regular slots are booked, the system stops showing wait times and displays ‘NA’, preventing applicants from scheduling a date.
How Delays Escalated to 2027
The delays began in December 2025, when consulates postponed interviews scheduled for that month to March 2026. Those appointments were later moved to October 2026, and in recent weeks, many have been further delayed into 2027.
Professionals planning short trips to India for stamping now face the risk of being stranded outside the US for months, affecting their employment, family arrangements, and immigration status.
