Flight Delay Costs H-1B: Chennai Interview Denied

An H-1B applicant faces a painful setback. Their flight was delayed, and they missed their interview at the Chennai consulate.

Missed interview and denied entry

You had a morning interview scheduled at the Chennai consulate, but the delay stopped you from reaching on time. The consulate guard refused entry, leaving your visa plans at risk.

Rescheduling now unlikely

Your case is treated as a no show. The Visa Application Center does not reschedule missed appointments after 24 hours. You lose your place and your H-1B filing fees, and experts say fixing this is unlikely.

Fresh appointments and new fees

You now need to book both OFC and consular appointments again. You start from the beginning and you also pay the full fee again. This adds more time and pressure to your stamping process.

Long wait times add to stress

The long wait times in India make this setback feel even heavier. You now think about expediting your appointment, but experts say that is highly difficult since the original case is now closed.

Lesson for future applicants

Experts advise waiting 24 hours and checking the portal again, just in case rescheduling becomes visible. This incident shows the risk of travelling on the same day as your visa interview. A missed slot often means starting all over again.