US Begins Social Media Checks on H-1B Applicants; Appointment Rescheduling Underway

A sweeping disruption has hit H-1B visa applicants in India after the US State Department’s new social-media vetting rules triggered.

The cancellation of numerous visa interview appointments. Applicants with interview dates on or after December 15 have received emails asking them to reschedule, CNBC reported.

The cancellations are believed to stem from the Department’s latest requirement that consular officers examine applicants’ social-media activity as part of security screening. This additional review step has reduced the number of interview slots consulates can offer, causing widespread inconvenience at a time when many H-1B workers typically travel home for visa processing.

US business immigration attorney James Hollis criticised both the timing and execution of the policy shift, noting that many families had already planned holiday-season travel around visa stamping.

In a LinkedIn post, Hollis wrote, “There have been a significant number of H-1B visa appointments cancelled in India, and applicants have been directed to reschedule the visa interview component. The affected appointments are on or after 15 December 2025.” He added that consular posts have had to cut appointment availability due to the time required to implement and conduct the new vetting procedures.

Attorney Pamela Rangel similarly pointed out that extending social-media vetting to H-1B applicants adds yet another variable to an already unpredictable stamping process.

The US State Department has confirmed that from December 15 onwards, all H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents will be subject to mandatory social-media screening. Applicants will also be required to keep their social-media profiles accessible to officers for review.

With the new policy now in effect, applicants face longer waits, reduced interview availability, and considerable uncertainty over when normal scheduling may resume.