This advisory comes at a time when many candidates are facing unexpected interview cancellations due to the United States’ newly implemented social media vetting protocols for H-1B and H-4 visa holders.
In a post on X, the embassy stated: “ATTENTION VISA APPLICANTS – If you have received an email informing you 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 entry to the Embassy or Consulate.”
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
Also read | H-1B visa applicants asked to reschedule appointments as social media vetting policy begins from December 15
The advisory follows considerable disruption across India, with interview appointments set for on or after December 15 being cancelled and applicants directed to book new dates. These cancellations are linked to the introduction of the US State Department’s expanded review of online presence, which mandates that consular officers assess applicants’ social media activity ahead of interviews.
According to the new policy, all H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents are required to set their social-media accounts to public and disclose usernames used on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, regardless of whether the accounts have been inactive for the last five years.
This additional screening requirement has drastically limited appointment availability, forcing consulates to reduce daily interview capacities and reorganize schedules.
Also read | Trump administration orders stricter H-1B vetting, targets applicants tied to online censorship
For Indians, who constitute a large portion of H-1B visa holders, the timing of these cancellations has been particularly troublesome, coinciding with the holiday season when many workers return home for visa stamping. Business immigration attorney James Hollis expressed concerns about these developments on LinkedIn, stating: “I’m shaking my head about the reports coming out about H-1B visa appointment cancellations in India… The reasoning for the cancellations is that the new social media vetting policy requires implementation time and review time for the posts.”
Despite these issues, the US State Department has defended the changes, asserting that “every visa adjudication is a national security decision” and that it is “a privilege, not a right”.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
First Published: Dec 10, 2025 1:13 PM IST
