The US State Department’s new social media vetting policy has caused significant delays for H-1B visa applicants in India, with many interview appointments postponed to next year. The US Embassy in India issued an advisory on Tuesday night, informing applicants that rescheduled appointments must be strictly followed.
The Embassy warned that applicants who arrive at consulates on their old appointment dates—after being officially rescheduled—will not be allowed entry. Media reports indicate that interviews originally set for mid to late December are now being shifted to March, though the total number of rescheduled cases remains unclear.
Under the new rules, H-1B applicants and their H-4 dependents must ensure that all their social media profiles are set to “public,” allowing US officials to review their online activity. This expanded screening, which begins on December 15, aims to identify individuals who may pose security or public-safety risks. Students and exchange visitors have already been subject to similar checks.
The State Department emphasized that “every visa adjudication is a national security decision.”
This new social media review adds to the growing scrutiny of the H-1B program. Earlier in September, President Donald Trump imposed a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas—an order expected to impact many Indian applicants. Additionally, the US recently paused Green Card, citizenship, and other immigration processes for people from 19 “countries of concern” following a shooting incident involving an Afghan national.
