H-1B and H-4 Visa Stamping in India: Interviews, Delays and What Changed
H-1B and H-4 stamping in India after the 2025 changes: interviews now required, the online presence review, rescheduled appointments, and how to plan travel.
H-1B stamping is the consular process that puts an H-1B visa in your passport so you can re-enter the US. In India it changed sharply in 2025: interview waivers ('dropbox') ended for most work-visa renewals in September–October 2025, so H-1B and H-4 applicants generally need an in-person interview; and from December 2025 Mission India applied an online presence review to H-1B and H-4 applicants, cutting daily capacity and moving many interviews from December 2025 to March 2026 and later. Plan international travel around a realistic stamping date, book H-4 family members together, and use your one free reschedule carefully. AppointVisa is a US visa appointment assistance service for applicants in India, handled by a dedicated booking team. Customers pay a small pre-payment to start; it is refunded in full if AppointVisa does not secure a booking by the agreed deadline, and the balance is due only once the agreed appointment is secured. The advance is not refunded if the customer cancels after monitoring has started.
- Interview waivers (dropbox) ended for most H-1B renewals in late 2025 — plan for an in-person interview.
- Since December 2025, H-1B and H-4 applicants go through an online presence review; make profiles public and keep DS-160 handles complete.
- Mission India rescheduled many H-1B/H-4 interviews from December 2025 to March 2026 and later.
- Book H-4 spouses and children with the principal so the family travels once.
- Don't travel outside the US for stamping without a booked date you can rely on.
When you need stamping
If your H-1B visa stamp has expired, or you changed employer or status inside the US and never had one, you need a stamping appointment before re-entering the US after international travel. H-4 dependants need their own visas too.
What changed in 2025–26
- February 2025: the interview-waiver window shrank to visas that expired within the previous 12 months.
- September–October 2025: interview waivers ended for most H-1B and other work and student renewals — in-person interviews became the norm.
- December 2025: Mission India began an online presence review for H-1B and H-4 applicants and rescheduled many interviews dated on or after 15 December 2025, many to March 2026.
- 2026: law firms reported continued delays, with some dates pushed into late 2026 or 2027. Check the current situation before planning travel.
If your appointment was rescheduled by the Embassy
Attend the new date shown in your account. Firms reported that if you cannot, you may reschedule once online, provided your fee receipt is less than a year old. Don't go to the original date — it is no longer valid.
Planning travel around stamping
- Get a booked date before you book international travel; employers increasingly advise against non-essential trips while backlogs last.
- Book the principal and H-4 family members together.
- Consider every post in India — Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata — and split OFC and interview cities if that's earlier.
- Keep your petition approval, employment letter and recent pay slips ready.
Let our team work on your appointment
Submit your request. Our team watches availability and books on your behalf — you pay a small pre-payment (refunded if we don't book by the agreed deadline), and the balance only after we secure your appointment. Conditions are in our refund policy.
- Morgan Lewis (Dec 2025): postponed H-1B/H-4 interviews in India
- National Law Review: H-1B/H-4 rescheduling amid expanded social-media vetting
- Benesch: Mission India update after online presence review
- Business Standard (Aug 2025): dropbox renewals end from 2 September
- U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India — Visas
Written and reviewed by the AppointVisa team; last reviewed 3 Nov 2026. Official rules change — the sources above are authoritative. AppointVisa is an independent service, not affiliated with the US Government, Embassy or Consulates.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use dropbox for my H-1B renewal?
For most H-1B applicants, no — interview waivers ended in late 2025. A consular officer can still waive or require an interview; the portal shows what you are eligible for.
Why was my H-1B interview moved?
From December 2025 Mission India applied an online presence review to H-1B and H-4 applicants and reduced daily capacity, so many interviews were rescheduled. Attend the new date in your account.
Do H-4 dependants have to interview too?
Generally yes, and they are covered by the online presence review. Book them with the principal applicant.
Should I travel to India for stamping now?
Only with a booked date you can rely on and a plan if it moves. Talk to your employer's immigration counsel before travelling.
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