The US Department of State has been rescheduling consular interviews for some applicants with H-1B and H-4 visa appointments until as late as June 2026. Consular posts state that these changes are due to the Department of State’s implementation of the new online presence review requirement for H-1B applicants and their dependents and increased vetting.
Key Points
- Mass Rescheduling of H-1B and H-4 Appointments: Interviews scheduled on or after December 15, 2025, are being reassigned to dates several months later, with many new appointments falling in March 2026, and some as late as June 2026.
- Applicants Instructed Not to Appear on Original Dates: Notices state that applicants will not be seen on their initial appointment date and should appear only on the newly assigned date.
- Biometrics Appointments Unchanged: Applicants are advised that their Visa Application Centre (VAC) biometrics appointments remain valid and unaffected.
- Limited Rescheduling: Applicants who cannot attend on the new date may reschedule online but are limited to one opportunity to reschedule. Fee receipts older than one year are considered expired and cannot be used to reschedule.
- Risk of Extended Travel Disruption: Applicants who travel abroad for visa stamping may be unable to return to the United States for several months if their appointment is rescheduled. Employers should advise their H-1B employees with expired visas or those seeking initial issuance to avoid non-essential travel.
- Monitor Their Appointment Portals: H-1B employees should log into their visa appointment profiles to retrieve updated appointment letters and check for message-center notifications.