The United States is postponing large numbers of H-1B and H-4 visa interviews as consulates prepare to enforce new online-screening rules, causing widespread cancellations and shifting many appointments to spring 2026.
Applicants began noticing the disruption in early December when interviews set for mid- and late-month disappeared from the system. Okay News reports that immigration firm Fragomen confirmed multiple sudden reschedulings, with many applicants moved to March.
U.S. consulates in India have told applicants the delays are linked to new background-check requirements starting December 15. Under the updated rules, consular officers will now review applicants’ public social-media activity and require access to accounts during vetting, adding more time to each case.
Consulates expect a significant temporary reduction in daily interview capacity. To avoid crowded waiting rooms and operational bottlenecks, officers are cancelling many December interviews and spacing out new dates.
Applicants will still attend biometric appointments for fingerprints and photos, but the in-person visa interview will take place months later.
The new checks follow earlier H-1B program reforms aimed at tightening degree relevance, limiting qualifying roles, and increasing employer compliance. In September, officials also announced a one-time $100,000 fee for all new H-1B petitions, sparing only continued-employment filings.
The overlapping changes and delays have created fresh uncertainty for workers and employers, with no clear timeline for when normal interview operations will resume.
