# H-1B visa slots gone for 2026, thousands of Indians stranded 2026-09-17T19:06:55+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Indians seeking H-1B visa appointments at US consulates across India are seeing no slots available for the rest of 2026, with calendars rolling over to 2027. Immigration lawyers report a near-total lack of regular slots. The crisis began in December 2025 when interviews were abruptly cancelled, and while those were rescheduled to this year, no new slots have opened. The State Department portal shows no availability for H, O, and L visa types. Officials say they are focusing on existing cases, not new petitions. The situation is attributed to mandatory social media screening introduced in December 2025, which also ended third-country visa stamping for Indians. Thousands of H-1B holders visiting home remain stranded, unable to return to work in the US. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The H-1B visa backlog has worsened under new social media screening rules that began in December 2025, adding weeks of processing time per applicant. Unlike earlier delays caused by staffing shortages or pandemic closures, this bottleneck is procedural, affecting all visa types that require in-person interviews. The State Department controls appointment capacity, and it has said it is prioritising existing applications over new ones. For Indian tech workers who depend on H-1B renewals or changes of status, the lack of appointments means extended unpaid leave or job loss. The next signal to watch is whether the department opens emergency slots or changes its processing priority later in 2026. ## Coverage - m9.news Tags: H-1B visa, Indian diaspora, US State Department Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/h-1b-visa-slots-gone-for-2026-thousands-of-indians-stranded/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/h-1b-visa-slots-gone-for-2026-thousands-of-indians-stranded/#story-in-brief