H-1B and H-4 Visa Appointments Being Rescheduled due to Online Presence Review

On December 8, 2025, some H-1B and H-4 visa applicants began receiving notices that their consular interviews were being rescheduled for months later. Read below for details of what we know so far.

Who is Impacted?

Some individuals with H-1B and H-4 visa interviews (“consular interviews”) scheduled for December 15, 2025 and later have received rescheduling notices from their consulates/embassies. Indian consular posts have been largely impacted, though there are reports that Ireland and Vietnam posts have also been issuing rescheduling notices. We do not know at this time whether other countries will be impacted. Visa Application Centre (VAC) biometrics appointments are unaffected and these original appointments remain valid.

When Are the New Interviews?

Most of the December 2025 interviews are being scheduled for March 2026 or later. Some appointments have been rescheduled to as late as June 2026. An individual’s rescheduling notice will indicate their new appointment date and time.

Why is This Happening?

Consular posts have stated the rescheduled appointments are due to the Department of State’s new online presence review requirement for H-1B applicants and H-4 dependents. The vetting takes additional time, and consular posts are seeking to reduce their daily interview load to account for the additional processing time.

How Should You Proceed?

Follow your reschedule notice. If you receive an interview rescheduling notice from the consular post, appear on the date and time indicated on the new notice. 

Carefully consider requesting to reschedule. If you cannot attend on the new date, you may reschedule by following the instructions on the notice. You are, however, permitted to reschedule only once. Note, too, that fee receipts expire after one year and cannot be used to reschedule.

Appear for your VAC biometrics appointment. If you do not reschedule your interview, you should still appear for biometrics on the original date or unless otherwise notified.

Refrain from nonessential international travel. If you require a new or initial H-1B or H-4 visa, a rescheduled visa interview could delay your return to the United States by months.

Check your visa appointment portal. Log into your visa appointment profile to proactively check for an updated appointment letter or message-center notifications.  

Schedule visa interview appointments as soon as possible. If you know you will be traveling and will need a new visa stamp, schedule your appointment as soon as possible. Consular posts are reducing the number of daily interviews, which likely means it will be more difficult to secure an appointment at a time that is convenient for you.

Communicate with your employer. If you plan on traveling outside the United States, let your employer know in case your return is delayed.

We do not wish to create a panic and want everyone to be able to vacation and visit home. At the same time, please be aware of any changes to your appointment and the impact of departing the U.S. and your return. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me through the “Contact Us” link on my website or by emailing info@pdortegalaw.com.