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U.S. Expands Social Media Checks for H-1B/H-4 Visas as DHS Finalizes Wage-Weighted Selection Rule

Consular backlogs in India are stranding applicants, with major tech employers urging visa holders to avoid travel.

The Trump administration said it was replacing the lottery system with wage and skill-based selection.
A US flag, a passport and a H-1B Visa application form are seen in this illustration. The new “online presence reviews” have been put into place to screen H-1B applicants who may pose a national security risk to the United States. (REUTERS)
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Overview

  • Beginning December 15, the State Department is reviewing the online presence of all H-1B and H-4 applicants worldwide, with the U.S. Embassy urging early filing and warning of longer processing times.
  • U.S. consular posts in India have canceled or moved many mid-December interviews to dates as late as spring 2026, leaving returning workers without valid visas stuck abroad.
  • Immigration counsel for major tech firms advised employees who lack a current visa stamp to postpone international trips due to unpredictable waits for appointments and reentry.
  • DHS issued a final rule to replace the random H-1B lottery with a selection weighted toward higher-paid, higher-skilled beneficiaries, effective February 27, 2026, for the FY 2027 cap season.
  • Proposed wage protections and steep new fees are prompting employers to reassess sponsorship plans, with analysts warning reduced access for early‑career and lower‑wage applicants, especially from India.