H-1B Applicants in India Face Rescheduled Interviews Amid New Social Media Vetting Rules

The US State Department’s new social media vetting rules for H-1B visa applicants are causing widespread disruption in India, with many interview slots deferred to 2026. Applicants report that appointments booked for December 2025 are now shifted to March, triggering uncertainty for workers and families.

The US government recently widened screening for H-1B visa holders and H-4 dependents, instructing them to keep every social media profile “public”. From December 15, consular officials are set to examine online activity to flag applicants considered inadmissible or seen as threats to national security or public safety.

H-1B visa social media vetting causes large-scale rescheduling

The US Embassy in India acknowledged the change and issued a late-night advisory to applicants whose slots moved. "If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date," it said, stressing that earlier confirmations are no longer valid once reschedule messages arrive.

The Embassy also warned applicants not to appear on their original interview day after receiving a new date. "Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate," the Embassy said. Officials stated that anyone ignoring the email notices will be refused entry at consular gates.

H-1B visa social media vetting timeline and impact in India

Bloomberg reported that interviews booked for mid to late December 2025 at Indian posts are being moved to March 2026, though the total figure remains unclear. Attorney Steven Brown, from a business immigration law firm, said, "Mission India confirms what we have been hearing. They have cancelled a number of appointments in the coming weeks and rescheduled them for March to allow for the social media vetting."

ATTENTION VISA APPLICANTS - If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date. Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied…— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) December 9, 2025

Mission India’s stance aligns with broader security messaging from Washington. "Every visa adjudication is a national security decision," the State Department said. Students and exchange visitors were already subject to such checks, so the new guidelines mainly extend intensive scrutiny to skilled workers and their accompanying family members under the H-4 category.

The H-1B programme, a major route for highly skilled foreign professionals, especially from India, has faced stronger restrictions under the Trump administration. In September, US President Donald Trump ordered a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B work visas, a move that could affect Indians planning temporary employment in the United States.

Key policy steps linked to security concerns are outlined below.

Mission India’s rescheduling decision follows another security-driven move by the US government. Authorities earlier paused Green Card, US citizenship and several other immigration processes for individuals coming from 19 "countries of concern" after the shooting of National Guard soldiers by an Afghan national, underlining the tighter approach now affecting Indian H-1B applicants.