Indian professionals seeking H-1B visas now face long delays. Interviews and visa stamping for both new and transfer applicants have moved from early 2026 to as late as September 2026. This leaves many workers stuck in India for months. It also disrupts careers and tests employer patience. Hany Girgis, American Ed-tech chair and investor, said on X, “What was meant to be a U.S.-based work visa is quietly turning into offshore work by default… without the cost savings.” Some workers can legally work for US employers from India during this period. But the long wait may strain employer-employee relations. Visa tracking shows many January 2026 interview slots at US consulates in India are postponed to September 2026. Immigration lawyer Rajiv Khanna stated, “H-1B India January visa appointments are being pushed to September.” This backlog affects first-time applicants and those renewing after travel. Delays worsened recently, with interviews for December 2025 being postponed to March 2026. US consular posts link this to a new online presence review for H-1B and H-4 applicants started on December 15. Khanna said, “There isn’t much that can be done because this administration has created a systemic problem that appears deliberate. What was the extreme emergency that the social media vetting policy had to be changed and people’s lives upended overnight? This has become a universal problem for H-1B employees applying in India.” Khanna also pointed to Trump-era policies requiring applicants to apply for visas only in their country of nationality or residence, which adds strain on workers and employers. These prolonged waits delay joining dates, travel plans, and job changes, affecting individuals and US businesses alike. Many have asked if they can work remotely from India while waiting. Khanna confirmed, “One of the key issues I’ve been asked about is, can we work while we are in India? The answer is yes.” He warned workers to follow local tax laws when working remotely. These visa delays come as the US government narrowed the definition of specialty occupations, raised degree requirements, added employer compliance rules, imposed a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions, and expanded social media checks. These measures, combined, have slowed processing and created hurdles for Indian IT professionals.