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1h ago

U.S. Consulates in India Cancel H-1B Interviews Ahead of Social-Media Screening

Beginning December 15, consular officers will review public social-media accounts for H-1B workers with H-4 dependents, a step officials describe as enhanced national-security vetting.

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An exterior view of the US Department of State headquarters in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood in Washington, DC, on April 15, 2025. The US State Department is expected to propose an unprecedented scaling back of Washington's diplomatic reach, multiple news outlets reported Tuesday, shuttering programs and embassies worldwide to slash the budget by almost 50 percent.
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Overview

  • Chennai and Hyderabad consulates have reduced daily capacity and rescheduled many H-1B appointments set for mid-December, with some moved to March 2026, citing operational constraints tied to the new review.
  • Applicants are instructed to attend only on the newly issued dates, with the U.S. Mission in India warning that those who arrive on original dates will be denied entry.
  • From December 15, H-1B and H-4 applicants must set social-media profiles to public and disclose usernames used over the past five years for consular review.
  • Consular officers will examine LinkedIn, résumés and work history for consistency, with heightened scrutiny reported for roles in content moderation, misinformation/fact-checking and online safety that could implicate protected expression.
  • Separately, USCIS has placed holds and ordered re-reviews for applicants tied to 19 designated countries and paused all pending asylum cases, while DHS has cut certain EAD validity to 18 months, raising expectations of longer processing and potential work-authorization gaps.