Latest H1B news

[andhra_jp]

Seen in FB Forum

 

Need help regarding STEM OPT ext

My current company has refused to file for STEM ext and they have stopped sponsoring at all. My initial OPT EAD expires in a month, and I have been looking for a job switch in the past 3 months, but no company is taking F1 students. I need a job to file for STEM ext asap and I do not have an offer in hand.

 

What are my options to stay here legally? I don’t want to pay any consultancy for filing STEM ext, and I don’t want to transfer my status to B2 either.

 

If someone knows anyone who might be hiring, I will be happy to apply. I graduated from a 2nd gen IIT in India, did my MS in Data Science here and have about 2 years of exp. Looking for jobs/internships in DS, ML and Gen AI roles.

 

Any kind of help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

 

[andhra_jp]

another FB Post.

Urgent Help Needed - H1B Visa Appointment Slots in India

I’m currently in India following the sudden passing of my father. I’m here with my child (US citizen) while my wife is in the US. I’m on H1B visa and desperately need to find a visa appointment slot at any US consulate in India to return by early February.

My child has critical medical appointments and needs to return to school (4th grade) by the second week of February. Despite checking all locations across India, I haven’t been able to secure any appointment slots.

Requesting help with:

WhatsApp groups or Telegram channels that notify when slots open up.

Any tips or resources for tracking H1B appointment availability

Suggestions from anyone who has recently navigated this situation.

 

I would greatly appreciate any guidance or connections to tracking these appointments.

 

another FB Post.

Need help related to my current situation. My H-1B expires in Dec 2026. I am a full-time employee. My perm is not filed. My manager informed me that the Department of Labour came back with a wage-level issue. They are trying to fix this with the Department of Labour. By the time my I 140 will be approved my H1 B will be maxed out. They are suggesting moving to Canada or Uk for 3-6 months. Has anyone done that prior? I have 3 year old kid so I would prefer India and not other countries. My company has India office locations.

If I leave usa while Perm is pending, can I come back on h1b extension after i140 is approved? Will I fall under the 100k fees? What other route can we explore? What should I do for my 401k and other investment on stocks etc? Should I withdraw or move before leaving assuming I might not be able to come back?

Please help

[akkum_bakkum]

 

 

[Dallasbaluu]

On 1/16/2026 at 10:15 PM, andhra_jp said:

another FB Post.

Urgent Help Needed - H1B Visa Appointment Slots in India

I’m currently in India following the sudden passing of my father. I’m here with my child (US citizen) while my wife is in the US. I’m on H1B visa and desperately need to find a visa appointment slot at any US consulate in India to return by early February.

My child has critical medical appointments and needs to return to school (4th grade) by the second week of February. Despite checking all locations across India, I haven’t been able to secure any appointment slots.

Requesting help with:

WhatsApp groups or Telegram channels that notify when slots open up.

Any tips or resources for tracking H1B appointment availability

Suggestions from anyone who has recently navigated this situation.

 

I would greatly appreciate any guidance or connections to tracking these appointments.

 

another FB Post.

Need help related to my current situation. My H-1B expires in Dec 2026. I am a full-time employee. My perm is not filed. My manager informed me that the Department of Labour came back with a wage-level issue. They are trying to fix this with the Department of Labour. By the time my I 140 will be approved my H1 B will be maxed out. They are suggesting moving to Canada or Uk for 3-6 months. Has anyone done that prior? I have 3 year old kid so I would prefer India and not other countries. My company has India office locations.

If I leave usa while Perm is pending, can I come back on h1b extension after i140 is approved? Will I fall under the 100k fees? What other route can we explore? What should I do for my 401k and other investment on stocks etc? Should I withdraw or move before leaving assuming I might not be able to come back?

Please help

okadiki iste 100000000000000 mandi iddhe follow avutaru ani consulate ki telusu covid time lo chusaru fake gallanu cc @Tellugodu

[andhra_jp]

Seen this Reditt post today

 

H-1B / H-4 Visa Interview Deadlock in India – No Regular Slots, Indefinite Wait, Families Stuck

Posting to understand how widespread this issue is and to explore collective advocacy options.

Since the policy change in mid-December, there are almost no regular H-1B or H-4 visa interview slots available in India. Some people mention emergency (expedited) slots, but most families cannot apply for emergency requests without first securing a regular slot.

Because of this, many families are stuck with no clear path to return to the U.S.:

• H-1B workers stranded after traveling for visa stamping

• Spouses and children separated

• Children missing school

• Loss of income or jobs

• Ongoing emotional and financial stress

The biggest concern is the lack of a clear timeline. Consulates say interview slots are “reduced,” but in reality slots are almost not available at all. Families are advised to keep checking the website, yet no regular slots are opening for multiple weeks now.

Each passing week, more families are affected or are avoiding travel due to fear of being stranded.

How we can work together

Answers to the questions below may help us craft better and more effective messages to senators’ offices:

• Has anyone received a regular H-1B or H-4 appointment recently?

• Has anyone had an emergency request approved (other than cases where the consulate auto-rescheduled an existing appointment)?

• Has anyone received meaningful help from a Senator or Representative?

Some of us have contacted congressional offices, but most responses say the same thing:
“First get a regular appointment.”
This is not practical when no regular slots are available.

I’d like to understand whether others have received different responses, tried additional follow-ups, or used other approaches that led to progress.

If you are in a similar situation and open to working together, please comment or send a message.

[andhra_jp]

Few replies to above post

 

Hello. I am in the same boat as many people. I am also looking to reschedule my appointment but there is no availability. I have no solution for you or anybody but I have one thing to say that the situation is going to be uncertain going ahead. They have clear intentions to reduce the number of immigrants. I talked to one of the lawyers expecting advice but they said that I should wait for slots which in reality we never know when it will open. The lawyer clearly mentioned that the US government wants the H1B to join their spouse in India so that they will leave the USA permanently. Now, it literally feels like the US government is troubling the people intentionally so that they will leave the USA permanently. I wish the Indian government could escalate this situation and help NRIs. Lastly, I also hope for a better future for all of us. Thanks.

 

They just want no more Indians... hell even Indians in US don't want anymore new Indians. They hate us and we hate each other. Chill.. there is not even a small thing you can do about this.I was stuck in Canada and wife in India during COVID for PR processing. No one gave a . Canada welcomed immigrants at that time too, unlike this situation where no one really likes H1B. Sometimes we are scapegoats while others learn from us and don't visit India and wait until it resolves (at all).

 

They are deliberately doing this against Indians . Our neighbor Sri Lanka consulate issues all type of visas without any restrictions. None of the congress people or representatives would be helpful at the moment. 

 

I am also missing my own little sister’s wedding it’s been more than a month I am looking for appointments. I am not able to get it! I am just crying day night that guilt of being not there for her is troubling me a lot

 

I might have to miss my sisters marriage due to this. It’s very frustrating to be in this place.

Haven't folks been rescheduled till May 2027? I would be surprised if there are regular appointments available before that. The ones from cancellations are being given as emergency slots.

Sadly not many practical alternatives for me. Others could have different situation.
I am in USA and wife and kids are stranded in india as they were visiting family and rules suddenly changed with almost zero notice. No H4 appointments available in india, cant go to another country for visa appointment as that rule changed recently. Cant apply for another visa type like B2 as it will be considered fraud. Wife unable to join work and kids unable to join school.

There are no new appointments opened after Dec 3. I tried contacting chennai consulate and got reply asking to keep check website. But what to check if they are not releasing any new appointments. I also mentioned medical emergency, family separation and kids education with no luck.