A new wave of uncertainty has struck H-1B workers and their families as the United States prepares to implement mandatory social-media checks for all H-1B and H-4 applicants starting December 15, 2025. The Trump administration’s new rule has prompted large-scale cancellations and rescheduling of visa interviews worldwide, leaving many travellers stranded.
Immigration lawyers confirmed that US consulates—including those in Hyderabad and Chennai—have cancelled interview appointments originally scheduled for mid to late December, pushing many of them as far as March 2026. The sudden change has disrupted travel plans for Indian professionals, families, and workers already dealing with heightened visa scrutiny.
The US Embassy in India issued a statement on X:
“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 admittance to the Embassy or Consulate.”
Who Is Affected?
According to attorneys, those impacted include:
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Professionals transitioning to new US employers
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H-1B holders who travelled briefly to India
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Individuals who came home for family events such as weddings
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Workers accompanying elderly parents back to India for the winter
Many are now unable to return to the United States until their rescheduled appointments.
New Mandatory Social Media Checks
Beginning December 15, every H-1B visa applicant and accompanying H-4 dependent must undergo compulsory social-media screening. Applicants are required to ensure their online profiles are set to public to enable effective verification.
To manage the increased workload of digital vetting, consulates appear to be reducing the number of daily interviews, resulting in cancellations and backlogs.
Immigration firms are urging visa holders and applicants to avoid international travel unless absolutely necessary. There have also been isolated cases of visas being revoked for individuals already living in the US due to social-media activity.
Past Precedent: Slowed Processing in 2025
This is not the first time visa processing has slowed due to digital-screening policies. On May 27, the State Department temporarily halted interview scheduling for F, M, and J student visas while revising its social-media scrutiny rules. Although processing resumed in June, it did so under much stricter vetting procedures.
85,000 Visas Revoked Since January
In related developments, the US has cancelled 85,000 visas since January 2025 as part of intensified immigration enforcement.
The US State Department posted on X:
“85,000 visa revocations since January. President Trump and Secretary Rubio adhere to one simple mandate, and they won’t stop anytime soon.”
The move signals ongoing, aggressive enforcement measures that may continue to affect Indian professionals and families in the coming months.
