India has raised concerns with the United States regarding the recent cancellation of pre-scheduled H-1B visa interviews, stating that they remain actively engaged with the US to address the issue. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has acknowledged the hardships faced by Indian citizens due to these cancellations and resulting delays.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue during a weekly media briefing, noting that the Indian government has received numerous appeals from Indian nationals struggling to schedule or reschedule their US visa appointments. While recognizing that visa-related matters fall under the sovereign domain of the issuing country, Jaiswal emphasized that India has conveyed its concerns to US authorities in both New Delhi and Washington, D.C.

The cancellation of interviews, initially scheduled from mid-December, has affected thousands of H-1B visa applicants. These applicants, many of whom were already in India, are now unable to return to the US to resume their jobs because their visa appointments have been postponed, some as far out as September 2026. The MEA has highlighted that these delays have caused significant uncertainty and practical problems, disrupting educational plans and creating personal and professional difficulties for applicants and their families.

The US government has communicated that these cancellations are due to an expanded review process that covers H-1B visa applicants and their H4 dependent visa holders. This change, implemented from December 15, applies globally to all countries. The enhanced vetting measures include scrutiny of social media posts and online profiles.

In response to these challenges, the Indian government has emphasized its commitment to minimizing the impact on Indian nationals. The MEA has stated that it is actively engaged with the US side to resolve the issues and is working to ensure that the concerns of affected individuals are addressed. These discussions are ongoing in both New Delhi and Washington, D.C.

The delays are not only affecting those seeking initial H-1B visas but also those seeking renewals after traveling abroad. This situation has created backlog, with many Indian H-1B applicants who were aiming for January interview slots now facing rescheduling to as late as September 2026.

Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security is planning to replace the traditional H-1B visa lottery system with a new selection process that prioritizes higher-skilled and higher-paid applicants. This shift, scheduled to take effect from February 27, 2026, for the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration season, aims to protect American jobs and wages by giving greater weight to skill level and salary in visa allocation, which is expected to impact Indian professionals who constitute a significant portion of H-1B holders in the United States.