MEA Flags US H-1B Interview Cancellations, Stranded Applicants Highlighted

(INDIA) — With FY 2026 H-1B cap filings already past the June 30, 2025 filing window, thousands of Indian nationals are now facing a different bottleneck: canceled and rescheduled H-1B and H-4 visa interviews that have left families stranded in India through early-to-mid 2026.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it raised the issue with U.S. authorities after receiving representations from affected applicants. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said people have been stranded for extended periods, causing “hardships” to families. Those hardships include disrupted employment, children’s schooling, and prolonged separation from U.S.-based life.

The cancellations hit applicants who had interview appointments scheduled on or after December 15, 2025. Many received rescheduling emails around December 8, 2025. Several new appointment dates landed in March 2026, May 2026, or later. Reports also cited dates as far as July 2026.

U.S. consular posts in India began rescheduling due to a State Department policy requiring expanded review of applicants’ online presence and social media. Consular sections cited operational limits as daily interview capacity dropped. Applicants who appear on the original date are expected to be turned away.

⚠️ Employer Alert: If an H-1B worker is abroad without a valid visa stamp, they may be unable to return, even with an approved I-129. Plan for extended work authorization gaps.

Current status of FY 2026 H-1B cap

FY 2026 is the cap season tied to an October 1, 2025 start date. Employers that secured selection in March 2025 and filed on time were eligible for cap numbers. Those approvals do not guarantee timely travel—visa stamping remains a separate step under Department of State control.

FY 2026 also continued the beneficiary-centric selection rule: each person is entered once, even with multiple registrations. That change reduced duplicate entries and increased fraud screening pressure.

USCIS has not released a single consolidated “selection rate” number that applies to every case. Rates vary by employer mix and filing follow-through. In recent years, USCIS has typically selected more than 85,000 registrations. That over-selection helps reach the 65,000 regular cap and 20,000 master’s cap after denials and withdrawals.

FY 2026 vs. FY 2025: what changed for Indian beneficiaries

The biggest structural difference between FY 2026 and FY 2025 is the one-entry-per-beneficiary selection design. Under the older model, multiple employers could generate multiple lottery “chances,” which boosted registration counts and raised integrity concerns.

Under the newer model:
– Multiple employers can still register a worker, but the worker only gets one lottery entry.
– Employers then compete post-selection through a petition filing.

This shift mattered for India-heavy technology recruiting, where multiple offers were common.

The second major difference is downstream travel risk. Even with an approved petition, Indian workers often need consular appointments in India. The current wave of H-1B and H-4 visa interviews rescheduling is now a material risk factor separate from USCIS cap selection.

📅 Key Date: Appointments scheduled on or after December 15, 2025 were widely rescheduled. Many new dates run March 2026 to July 2026.

What happens after selection, and why stamping delays still matter

After selection, the employer files an H-1B cap petition with an approved LCA. The LCA locks the job title, SOC code, worksite, and wage commitments. USCIS then adjudicates the I-129 and can issue an approval, RFE, or denial.

Approval allows three common paths:
1. Change of status inside the U.S., if the worker is already in status.
2. Consular processing, if the worker is abroad.
3. Visa stamping abroad later, for international travel after approval.

For those currently stranded in India, the usual issue is stamping. They may have an H-1B approval notice but lack a valid visa foil in the passport. Airlines and U.S. Customs and Border Protection generally require a valid visa stamp for admission, unless an exception applies.

H-4 dependents face the same constraint. A delayed H-4 interview can delay family reunification and, in some cases, H-4 EAD planning. H-4 EAD requires USCIS processing, but travel often depends on consular appointments.

Practical implications for employers: pay, work location, and compliance

Employers should treat prolonged travel delays as a compliance and workforce planning issue. If the worker cannot enter the U.S., the employer must avoid payroll or work arrangements that create wage-hour or LCA problems.

Key employer considerations:
– Document work authorization, location, and any unpaid periods carefully.
– Wage obligations turn on whether the worker is in H-1B status and “in the U.S.” in a paid, employed capacity.
– Employers must pay the higher of the prevailing wage or actual wage for the role and location.
– Wage levels affect scrutiny; Level I roles remain a frequent RFE target.

Practical steps for workers stuck in India due to interview rescheduling

Rescheduling is not a visa denial. It is an operational delay. Still, it can create cascading problems, including housing, schooling, and employer project assignments.

Recommended actions for applicants:
– Track these items daily:
– the consular scheduling portal
– email notices
– any updated appointment confirmation letter
– Note that biometrics generally remain valid if already completed, but applicants must follow the latest consular instructions.
– Be prepared to provide social media identifiers and other online presence information if requested; consular review has expanded to include such checks.
– Do not assume the original appointment date will be honored—arriving on the old date may result in refusal of entry to the consular section.

💼 Employee Tip: Do not assume the original appointment date will be honored. Arriving on the old date may result in refusal of entry to the consular section.

If you were not selected in the FY 2026 lottery: alternatives for 2026 planning

Options depend on employer type, the worker’s profile, and location. Common alternatives include:
– Cap-exempt H-1B: Universities, nonprofit research organizations, and affiliated entities can file year-round without a lottery.
– O-1: For individuals with sustained national or international acclaim (requires strong evidence).
– L-1: For intracompany transferees, usually after one year abroad with the related entity.
– TN (Canada/Mexico): If eligible by nationality and profession.
– F-1 STEM OPT: If available, it can bridge time until the next cap season.

Employers should also consider whether a role can be restructured for cap-exempt placement through a qualifying entity. That requires real, compliant employment and worksite control.

Next year’s projected timeline: FY 2027 planning

FY 2027 registration is expected in early-to-mid March 2026. Selection results typically arrive in late March or early April 2026. Filing usually opens April 1, 2026.

For Indian nationals watching the current consular backlog, FY 2027 planning should include a travel-risk analysis. Nonessential travel to India may carry months-long return uncertainty.

Action items for employers and employees (December 2025)

Employers:
– Confirm each worker’s travel location and visa stamping needs.
– Build a contingency plan for March to July 2026 appointment delays.
– Verify the LCA wage meets at least the correct prevailing wage level.

Employees:
– Confirm whether you are on change of status or consular processing.
– Monitor appointment portals and keep all confirmation letters current.
– Coordinate H-4 dependent interview timing and plan for family reunification impacts.

📋 Official Resources:
– H-1B Program: uscis.gov/h-1b-specialty-occupations
– Cap Season: uscis.gov/h-1b-cap-season
– Prevailing Wages: flcdatacenter.com