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U.S. Expands Social-Media Vetting to H‑1B and H‑4; Indian Posts Push Visa Interviews Into 2026

Mission India says appointments are being shifted to allow online‑presence reviews starting December 15.

The Trump administration's new visa regulations include social media screenings for H-1B applicants, leading to widespread appointment cancellations in India.
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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.

Overview

  • Effective December 15, the State Department will apply online‑presence reviews to all H‑1B applicants and H‑4 dependents, describing each visa decision as a national security determination.
  • U.S. consulates in India, notably Chennai and Hyderabad, have canceled or rescheduled many mid‑to‑late December interview slots, with numerous cases moved to March through May 2026.
  • The U.S. Embassy in India warned that applicants who received reschedule notices will be denied entry if they arrive on their original dates.
  • Applicants are instructed to set social‑media profiles to public so officers can review posts and identifiers, a step attorneys say will lengthen processing and increase unpredictability.
  • Consular emails cite operational constraints and reduced daily capacity during implementation, with lawyers reporting disrupted job starts, extended family separations and upended travel plans.