In recent days, U.S. Consulates in India informed H-1B and H-4 visa applicants that their visa interviews, originally scheduled for December 15, 2025 or later, had been rescheduled for March or April 2026, or later. U.S. Consulates are reducing the number of interviews scheduled each day to accommodate additional vetting of applicants.*
We advise international scholars and their family members, contemplating travel and H-1 or H-4 visa renewal at U.S. Consulates in India, to postpone travel to a future date, given the increased risk of lengthy delays in appointment scheduling and visa processing, which could delay their return to the U.S. for months.
To date, there are no definitive reports of appointments being cancelled or rescheduled at U.S. Consulates in additional countries. However, all international scholars and their family members, planning to travel and apply for H-1B or H-4 visa stamps, in any country, should be aware of the reduced availability of interview appointments and possible delays due to increased vetting.
We will monitor U.S. Consulate developments closely, communicate any changes, and post updates on the ISchO News and MIT Major Immigration Alerts and Updates pages, as needed.
Limitations on the number of available consular interview appointments could also impact the ability of new, incoming H-1B international scholars to secure visas.
It is important for MIT-sponsored H-1B employees to consult with their advisor in the International Scholars Office for individualized advice before they or their H-4 family members travel internationally, and to ask any questions they may have about this particular issue.
Individuals under the H visa sponsorship of other employers should contact their employers directly, or an immigration attorney, with questions.
*As we recently communicated, all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants are subject to a review of their online presence as part of the visa application vetting process at U.S. Embassies/Consulates abroad.