H-1B stamping dates opening in India however do not journey if you’re within the US, says immigration professional

Immigration lawyer Emily Neumann stated even when H-1B stamping slots open in India, those that are within the US shouldn’t take the danger of touring outdoors US.

Amid reviews that H-1B visa stamping slots have gotten accessible in India randomly, immigration lawyer Emily Neumann stated those that are presently within the US aren’t suggested to ebook an appointment in India as they need to touring outdoors India now. Those who’re already in India, caught for months, as all slots have been frozen due to a serious rescheduling of dates in December 2025 ought to do their greatest to attempt to ebook slots and get their passport stamped. But those that are within the US, they do not want the visa stamp for something and they need to not journey outdoors. The US authorities is doing all the things to cease immigrants from coming to the US, Neumann stated, including that getting the appointment is the simplest a part of the method. There isn’t any assure that the slot you booked will not get canceled, your H-1B visa will not get prudentially revoked if you find yourself outdoors the nation. Thousands of Indians obtained stranded of their house once they traveled to India final December for a trip. Visa holders usually ebook visa appointments once they go to house, as stamping is now mandatorily completed within the house nations of the visa holders. In December, the consulates in India canceled and rescheduled all interviews and deferred them to as late as May, June 2026. Without the stamping, they can not re-enter the US, so that they have been pressured to remain in India, biding their time. Some firms allowed them to work from India however there may be nonetheless uncertainty about the way forward for these H-1B visa holders. No recent dates have been accessible for the final three months however in the previous couple of weeks, some slots opened resulting in a serious rush for the visa holders.

What is H-1B visa stamping? Why is it wanted?

The visa stamp is the sticker in your passport that may help you enter the US. It usually has a three-year validity for Indians. This just isn’t work authorization and this isn’t wanted for something contained in the US. Form I-797 controls how lengthy you may keep within the US on the H-1B visa and work. Your visa stamp can expire if you find yourself within the US, however you may proceed working so long as your I-797 is legitimate. The new stamping is required solely to re-enter the nation and likewise to enter the nation for the primary time.