H-1B Visa Slots Pushed to 2027

In a startling sign of the continuing U.S. visa backlog crisis, Indian professionals and skilled workers are finding that the earliest available interview slots for H-1B work visas at U.S. consulates are now being scheduled as far out as 2027. Reports indicate that the U.S. Embassy’s visa appointment portal in India has shown no open H-1B visa interview appointments for the entirety of 2024, 2025, and 2026.

This unprecedented four-year wait for a visa interview has left thousands of Indian tech workers and their families in limbo, prompting growing frustration and anxiety among those aspiring to work in the United States. For many, the timeline is particularly alarming because an initial H-1B petition is typically valid for only three years; a wait for an interview could effectively outlast the work authorization itself.

An Unprecedented Backlog: Visa Appointments Delayed for Years

The news that H-1B visa interview appointments are backed up until 2027 has sent shockwaves through India’s tech community. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian applicants typically waited only a few days to a few weeks for visa interview slots. However, the suspension of routine services in 2020 created a massive bottleneck that has proven difficult to clear.

By late 2022, the scale of the problem became evident when the U.S. Department of State’s online portal showed wait times for visitor visas (B-1/B-2) exceeding 800 days in cities like Mumbai. While student visas (F-1) have been prioritized, specialized worker visas like the H-1B have borne the brunt of the remaining delays.

“Since the H-1B slots are pushed to 2027, I feel like the H-1B story is dead. I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a very hard time, to say the least.” — Reflections from an Indian tech professional on a community forum.

What’s Causing the Years-Long Delays?

Multiple factors have coalesced to create this "perfect storm" for Indian applicants:

• Pandemic Backlog: Consular services across New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad were scaled back for over a year, leading to a massive accumulation of pending cases.
• Surge in Demand: India is now the largest source of foreign workers and students on U.S. visas. In fiscal year 2022, the U.S. Mission in India issued over 1.1 million visas, yet demand continues to outpace capacity.
• Staffing Shortages: While the State Department has doubled the number of direct-hire U.S. consular officers in India, training and deploying new staff to high-volume posts takes significant time.
• Record Lottery Registrations: In 2023, USCIS received roughly 780,000 registrations for the H-1B lottery—nearly triple the number from two years prior—further straining the administrative pipeline.

Human Impact: Families and Careers in Limbo

The extraordinary wait has real-world consequences. Thousands of Indian H-1B holders who traveled home for family visits or emergencies have found themselves stranded in India, unable to return to their jobs in the U.S. without a new visa stamp.

Families have been hit particularly hard. Spouses and children on H-4 dependent visas often face the same delays, leading to instances of children missing school terms in the U.S. or families being separated across continents for months at a time. Some workers fear that prolonged absences will lead to layoffs or performance downgrades once they eventually return to their U.S. offices.

U.S. and Indian Authorities Respond

The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has launched several initiatives to mitigate the crisis:

1. Visa Blitz Days: Consulates have opened on Saturdays to conduct bulk interviews.
2. Dropbox Expansion: The Interview Waiver program now allows many renewing applicants to skip the in-person interview entirely.
3. Third-Country Processing: Indian applicants are being encouraged to seek appointments at U.S. embassies in countries like Thailand, Germany, or the UAE, where wait times may be shorter.
4. Domestic Renewals: A pilot program has been announced to allow some H-1B renewals to be processed within the United States, removing the need for workers to travel abroad just for a stamp.
5. New Consulates: Plans are underway to open new U.S. consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad to increase long-term processing capacity.

Is the American Dream Fading?

The combination of a fiercely competitive lottery and a broken appointment system is leading some to reconsider their plans. While the U.S. remains a top destination, competitor nations are moving quickly to capitalize on the frustration.

Canada, for instance, launched an initiative in 2023 to offer open work permits to 10,000 H-1B visa holders currently in the U.S. The program was fully subscribed within just 48 hours. Other countries like the UK, Australia, and Germany have also streamlined their paths for skilled Indian immigrants.

Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Despite the 2027 projections seen on the portal, U.S. officials emphasize that these dates are dynamic. As more staff come online and efficiencies like domestic renewals take hold, wait times are expected to decrease.

U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti has stated that tackling the backlog is on a "war footing." While the "H-1B story" may be more complicated than ever, the U.S. government maintains that reducing these wait times remains a top priority for maintaining the strategic and economic ties between the two nations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Does 'slots pushed to 2027' mean no H-1B visas are being issued?
A: No. USCIS continues to approve H-1B petitions. The 2027 date refers specifically to in-person interview availability at consulates in India for those who need a physical visa stamp to enter or re-enter the U.S.

Q: Can I apply for a visa in another country?
A: Yes. The U.S. State Department has authorized "third-country processing" for Indian nationals. Many have successfully obtained stamps in Thailand, Singapore, and various European cities.

Q: What is the 'Dropbox' service?
A: It is an interview waiver program. If you are renewing a visa in the same category that expired within the last 48 months, you may be eligible to simply drop off your documents at a designated center rather than waiting for a formal interview.

Q: Will the new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad help?
A: Yes, they are intended to significantly boost processing capacity, though it will take time for these facilities to become fully operational.