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2h ago

U.S. Expands Social-Media Checks to H‑1B/H‑4 as Indian Consulates Push Interviews Into 2026

Chennai and Hyderabad are cutting daily slots to implement the December 15 vetting, triggering mass rescheduling and instructions for applicants to appear only on newly assigned dates.

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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

  • Starting December 15, all H‑1B applicants and H‑4 dependents face an online‑presence review and are instructed to make social‑media profiles public, extending checks previously used for student and exchange visas.
  • An internal State Department cable directs officers to examine public posts, resumes and LinkedIn for work tied to misinformation, content moderation, fact‑checking, compliance and online safety, with involvement in censorship of protected expression flagged as potential ineligibility.
  • The U.S. Embassy in India told applicants who received reschedule notices not to appear on original dates, with many mid‑to‑late December interviews moved to March 2026.
  • The U.S. Consulate in Chennai cited “operational constraints” and reduced daily capacity linked to the new screening, and attorneys report similar mass rescheduling at Hyderabad.
  • Immigration lawyers warn of longer processing times, more administrative processing and higher denial risk, urging employers and travelers to expect delays and reconsider non‑essential international trips.