US visa appointments: Major changes have recently been made to visa regulations in the United States. Starting December 15th, the US government will begin mandatory online attendance reviews for H-1B applicants and their dependents (H-4). Under this new system, applicants will be required to switch their social media profiles to the public setting.
US Embassy: The US Embassy in India has issued an important advisory for visa applicants. The embassy has advised applicants not to report to consulate offices on their original interview dates if they have received a rescheduling notice. The embassy has warned that applicants who ignore the updated appointment and arrive on the old date will be denied entry.
In an announcement on X, the embassy stated, “If you have received an email stating that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India is eager to assist you with your new appointment date. Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in you being denied entry to the embassy or consulate.”
Stricter visa screening rules implemented.
This new advisory comes at a time when major visa rule changes are underway in the US. Starting December 15th, the US government will begin mandatory online presence reviews for H-1B applicants and their dependents (H-4). Under this new system, applicants will be required to switch their social media profiles to public settings to enable official scrutiny.
Due to the additional time required for this advanced visa screening process, many H-1B and H-4 appointments scheduled for mid- and late December have been canceled until March 2026. Consulates have also reduced the number of daily interviews, disrupting the travel and relocation plans of thousands of applicants. The US State Department has emphasized that visas are a “privilege, not a right,” and that “every visa decision is a national security decision.”
Appointment wait times in major cities
| City | B-1/B-2 (Tourist Visa) | F, M, J (Student/Exchange Visa) |
| New Delhi | 3.5 months | 15 days |
| Mumbai | 9.5 months | 3 months |
| Hyderabad | 5 months | 2.5 months |
| Chennai | 5 months | 3 months |
| Kolkata | 4.5 months | NA |
There has been a major relief in the B-1/B-2 waiting time in New Delhi, which was earlier 6.5 months.
The longest wait for B-1/B-2 appointments in Mumbai remains at 9.5 months.
The availability of B-1/B-2 appointments in Chennai is now listed as ‘N/A’, indicating an uncertain pattern.
How can applicants check for new appointments?
Applicants are advised to check the scheduling portal frequently to avoid any confusion or problems. The U.S. Department of State calculates wait times in multiples of 30 days, and this includes weekends and embassy holidays.
