New US visa rule sparks panic among Indians as social-media checks begin

Immigration lawyers said that consulates around the world, including those in Hyderabad and Chennai, have cancelled interview appointments originally set for mid to late December 2025. Many of these slots have now been pushed as far as March 2026, dramatically disrupting travel plans.

In this regard, the US Embassy in India had posted a message on X, writing, “ATTENTION VISA APPLICANTS - If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date. Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate.”

According to some attorneys, the people affected include professionals preparing to join new employers, as well as H-1B holders who briefly travelled to India for personal reasons and now need their visas stamped to return. Some had flown in for family events such as weddings; others were visiting to accompany elderly parents back to India for the winter, a report by The Times of India said.