The US has postponed hundreds of H-1B and H-4 visa appointments for Indian applicants after rolling out stricter social media vetting rules. Many interviews scheduled for mid to late December have now been pushed to March 2026, causing uncertainty for skilled workers and their families.
What’s Happening?
- The US State Department now requires applicants to keep their social media profiles public for security checks starting December 15.
- The US Embassy in India has warned that anyone who arrives on their old appointment date after receiving a reschedule notice will be denied entry.
- Immigration attorneys say interviews were cancelled to allow time for the expanded vetting process.
Why It Matters
- This adds to a series of stricter measures under the Trump administration, including a one-time USD 100,000 (approx. ₹83 lakh) fee for new H-1B filings.
- Green Card and citizenship processing have also been paused for applicants from 19 “countries of concern.”
For students planning long-term careers in the US, staying up to date on these policy changes is crucial.
Students across India are already discussing these changes on GD Connect. Don’t fall behind, join in, and get the answers you need.
Source: NDTV