Chennai Holds Narrow Window as H-1B Interview Slots Dry Up

(CHENNAI) With thousands of H-1B workers ready to start jobs in the United States 🇺🇸, India’s pipeline has narrowed to a single spigot: Chennai. As of September 13, 2025, people trying to book an H-1B visa interview say no interview slots are available in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, or Kolkata, while Chennai shows limited, sporadic openings that vanish within minutes. Consular officials have not issued new guidance on when more appointments will open, leaving families and employers in a holding pattern.

Applicants and immigration lawyers describe a daily routine of checking the scheduling portal at all hours, only to find empty calendars. When a few interview slots appear in Chennai, they are usually snatched up quickly. Many people now book travel at short notice, pay higher fares, and organize last-minute hotel stays in Chennai simply to keep their place in the H-1B queue.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, competition for those scarce openings has intensified since mid-2025.

The current picture: one city, scarce openings

• No H-1B interview capacity is currently visible in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, or Kolkata.
• Chennai continues to show intermittent, limited availability, though slots are rare and highly competitive.
• There have been no new public announcements from U.S. consular sections in India about large-scale slot releases for H-1B interviews.

The shift has real consequences. A software engineer in Pune with a long-approved petition can’t get to a window in Mumbai or Delhi. A healthcare worker from Hyderabad watches her U.S. start date slip as she checks for Chennai openings every day. Employers have begun restructuring onboarding plans because they can’t predict when new hires will complete visa stamping.

For many, the job is ready; the interview they need to unlock it is not.

Policy change affecting behavior

A policy change effective January 1, 2025, is shaping how applicants behave:

• Applicants can book their first nonimmigrant visa appointment at any post in India, but they can reschedule only once.
• If they miss that second date or need another change, they must pay the visa fee again before booking a new slot.

Consular officials said the rule was meant to reduce appointment hoarding. In the current shortage, it also means every click counts. Applicants must decide whether to grab the first Chennai slot they see—or hold out for a city closer to home and risk getting nothing.

Impact on applicants and employers

The human and business impacts are broad:

• New hires lose income when they can’t report to work in the U.S. on time.
• Families give notice on housing or pause school plans based on expected interview dates, then scramble when appointments don’t appear.
• Employers see productivity losses: roles needing in-person onboarding sit empty, project timelines stretch, and some U.S. teams shift work overseas.

Many have contacted the customer service email used for India scheduling support asking about future H-1B appointment releases. Responses so far direct people back to the online portal and public announcements, which haven’t specified when more H-1B interview dates might open. That silence fuels rumor and guesswork.

“If you see a slot, take it—even if it is in Chennai and even if it means a long trip. Then prepare to travel on short notice.” — common advice from immigration attorneys

Many attorneys also recommend considering the Interview Waiver Program (Dropbox) if eligible. While Dropbox availability depends on local capacity, some H-1B renewals can move more quickly this way than through a standard in-person interview.

Dropbox (Interview Waiver) specifics

• Applicants using Dropbox in Chennai report average processing of around two weeks, though times vary.
• Consular officers can still require an in-person interview if they need more information.
• For renewal applicants using Dropbox, typical document requests include:
  • Current and prior passports
  • Approved I-797 (USCIS approval notice)
  • A recent photograph meeting U.S. standards
  • Employment verification letter from the U.S. sponsor
  • Prior U.S. visas, old I-94 records, and recent pay statements (helpful if available)

First-time H-1B applicants: tougher prospects

• New H-1B workers cannot use Dropbox and must attend a consular interview.
• Many are asking employers to delay start dates, permit remote work from India, or reassign employees temporarily.
• Some fear offers may not hold if delays stretch too long.

Applicants consistently ask for two things: more slots and more clarity. They want notice when new blocks of slots will drop, how many will be posted per city, and whether consulates will add weekend windows or extra staffing for H-1B cases. Officials have not published such plans.

Practical steps applicants can take now

• Book immediately when a slot appears in Chennai. Waiting for a local post can backfire.
• Budget for travel and lodging. Chennai trips are now regular for many applicants.
• Gather documents in advance. Complete your DS-160 and keep a clean, organized packet ready.
• Avoid unnecessary rescheduling. With only one reschedule allowed, aim to keep your booked date.
• Watch official notices. Consular sections sometimes release new blocks with little lead time.

For forms, the DS-160—the online application required for nonimmigrant visas—must be submitted before scheduling. You can access the official form here: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160). Keep your confirmation page handy for both interview and Dropbox submissions.

Booking tactics reported by applicants

VisaVerge.com reports applicants are using practical tactics to improve their chances:

• Checking the portal at varied times, including early mornings and late nights.
• Keeping payment and profile details ready to complete booking quickly.
• Considering coach flights with flexible change policies to handle shifting travel dates.
• Booking refundable hotel stays in Chennai where possible.

Root causes and sector impact

The bottleneck traces to sustained demand, staffing limits, and uneven recovery from pandemic-era disruptions. While student visa volumes grabbed attention earlier, employers now say the H-1B crunch is testing hiring plans across:

• Tech
• Healthcare
• Automotive
• Finance

Responses by employers vary: some keep new hires on projects in India, others move work to third countries temporarily to meet deadlines.

Warnings and pitfalls

Attorneys warn against risky workarounds:

• Booking multiple profiles for the same person can lead to cancellations.
• Paying third parties promising “guaranteed” interview slots is a red flag.
• Skipping required documents invites delays or 221(g) administrative processing.

In this market, a clean file is often the applicant’s best advantage at the window.

Family and logistical challenges

• Spouses on H-4 visas face the same appointment drought; families try to align dates to travel together.
• Some stagger interviews—one partner first, the other later—adding cost and stress.
• Parents traveling with young children prefer morning appointments and short stays; with few options outside Chennai, trips are often tightly compressed.

Employers adapt by issuing start-date letters noting “pending consular processing” to help applicants with landlords or schools. Others schedule phased onboarding: remote orientation from India followed by in-person training after stamping.

Consular stance

Consular officials stress fair access and consistent processes but haven’t announced extra H-1B capacity or special booking windows. The current message is clear, if frustrating:

Chennai is the only reliable option today, and even there, openings are rare.

Practical reminder if a consular officer requests additional review

If you receive a 221(g) notice after your interview, you may be asked to submit documents. Keep these on hand:

• Employer support letter
• Client letters (if placed at a client site)
• Proof of ongoing job duties

When time is critical, avoiding a second trip can save weeks.

Bottom line

Until more interview slots open across India, the country’s H-1B talent remains in a slow queue that runs through Chennai. For now, speed, preparation, and patience matter most. And when a slot appears, pressing “book” may be the most important click of a career.