US tightens social media rules, several Indians now face H-1B visa appointment delay

The US Embassy in India issued an advisory on X stating, “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.” The Embassy further warned that applicants who arrive on their previously scheduled interview date will not be permitted to enter the Embassy or Consulate premises.

“Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate,” the post said.

Officials have not disclosed the exact number of interviews that have been rescheduled.

The US State Department announced that from December 15, it will expand mandatory online presence reviews to include all H-1B applicants and their dependents (H-4), in addition to the students and exchange visitors who are already subject to this scrutiny under the F, M, and J visa categories.

To facilitate the enhanced vetting process, all applicants under these visa categories have been instructed to change the privacy settings of all their social media profiles to “public.”

The State Department said it uses all available information in visa screening to identify applicants who may be inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a potential threat to national security or public safety.

“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the department reiterated.