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U.S. Embassy in India Warns Visa Applicants to Keep New Dates or Be Denied Entry

The notice coincides with a shift to mandatory social‑media screening under a security‑focused State Department policy.

Overview

  • In a Dec. 9 post on X, the U.S. Embassy said applicants notified of a rescheduled interview will be refused entry if they arrive on the original date.
  • Beginning Dec. 15, applicants for H‑1B and H‑4, as well as F, M and J visas, are instructed to make social‑media profiles public for mandatory screening.
  • The State Department says visas are a privilege and each adjudication is a national security decision requiring vigilance against potential harm.
  • Immigration lawyers report widespread cancellations in India with some interviews pushed to March, which they attribute to time needed for social‑media vetting.
  • Wait times remain uneven: New Delhi’s next F/M/J slots have recently shortened, Chennai shows fluctuations, and Mumbai faces some of the longest delays, including roughly 9.5 months for B‑1/B‑2.