The US Embassy in New Delhi and its consulates across India will suspend all operations for three days this week, leading to further setbacks for hundreds of Indian professionals awaiting H-1B visa renewals. The closure, mandated by a Presidential Executive Order from Donald Trump, spans Wednesday, 24 December, to Friday, 26 December, 2025.
Holiday Shutdown Halts Consular Services
While Christmas Day on 25 December is a standard federal holiday, the new order grants federal employees additional time off on Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas. This creates a five-day break for US government staff. In an official statement on social media platform X, the US Embassy in India confirmed that all routine consular services will be unavailable during this period. This includes visa processing and services for American citizens.
The embassy and its five consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru are scheduled to reopen and resume normal operations on Monday, 29 December 2025. US citizens in need of emergency assistance have been advised to use the dedicated emergency contact numbers, which will remain active throughout the holiday closure.
Extended Woes for Indian H-1B Visa Holders
This administrative shutdown compounds an already critical situation for Indian nationals on H-1B visas. The closure coincides with a period of significant delays in visa processing in India, following a series of policy changes by the Trump administration targeting the H-1B program.
Hundreds of Indian H-1B visa holders who travelled from the United States to India for mandatory stamping renewals find themselves stranded. Their appointments were abruptly cancelled by US consular offices earlier, and the new three-day closure adds to the backlog.
Reports indicate that the bulk of rescheduled renewal appointments are now pushed far into the future, with dates between March and June 2026. In some extreme cases, applicants have received new dates as late as 2027. This additional delay prolongs their separation from their jobs and families in the United States.
India is the largest beneficiary of the H-1B visa program, accounting for a staggering 71% of all visa holders, according to an April 2025 report from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The current disruptions therefore impact a vast number of Indian tech professionals.
What Applicants Should Do Next
With services halted, applicants are strongly encouraged to monitor their registered email addresses and the official websites of the US Embassy and Consulates for updates on rescheduled appointments. No in-person or online services will be accessible during the closure period.
The key takeaways from this development are:
- Closure Dates: 24, 25, and 26 December 2025.
- Affected Locations: US Embassy in New Delhi and consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.
- Main Impact: Further delays for H-1B visa renewals, extending the uncertainty for stranded Indian professionals.
- Reopening: All offices will reopen on Monday, 29 December.
The situation underscores the ongoing challenges within the US visa processing system and its direct consequences on the Indian workforce, which forms the backbone of the H-1B program.
