Specialist portal VisaPics reported on 22 July that none of the US Consulates in India show regular H-1B interview availability for the remainder of 2026, with first routine appointments now spilling into early 2027. While the US State Department has not issued an official bulletin, independent checks on the CGI Federal scheduling platform by recruiters in Bengaluru and Hyderabad corroborate the claim for several weekdays in December. If confirmed, the squeeze would primarily hit Indian H-1B holders who need to travel home for visa renewal after job changes or layoffs. Emergency-appointment criteria remain narrow—largely medical or humanitarian—making them unsuitable for business-travel needs. Companies with critical US projects are therefore weighing “third-country national” appointments in Singapore or Bangkok, though those posts also face rising demand. Immigration counsel recommend that assignees whose visa foil expires in 2026 postpone non-essential travel to India or explore the State Department’s stateside H-1B renewal pilot, expected to reopen a second tranche of 20,000 slots in November. Failure to secure stamping could result in being unable to re-enter the United States after vacation, disrupting project timelines. For HR managers, the episode underlines the importance of tracking visa-foil validity—not just petition approval—to avoid costly travel interruptions. Large IT outsourcers are already pre-booking 2027 slots as placeholders. Readers should note that VisaPics is not an official source; mobility teams are advised to verify slot availability directly on the appointment portal or through retained immigration counsel.
Source: VisaPics
