In a move catching many off guard, US consulates in India have pushed back H-1B visa appointments for numerous Indian tech professionals, rescheduling them from December to as late as March 2026. The disruptions, hitting applicants in key hubs like Hyderabad and Chennai, tie directly to a new State Department policy kicking in on December 15 that demands thorough reviews of social media profiles.​

This expanded vetting requires H-1B hopefuls and their H-4 dependents to make all online accounts—spanning platforms like Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn—fully public for consular checks. Officials aim to spot potential security risks through posts, friends lists, and digital footprints, a process already routine for student visas but now straining resources for high-skilled workers. With Indians claiming over 70% of H-1B slots annually, the backlog has slashed daily interview capacities, leaving job offers from giants like Google and Amazon in limbo.​

The US Embassy issued a stark advisory: Show up on your original date, and youll likely face entry denial—new slots are final. Emails notifying applicants are pouring in, while biometrics remain unaffected for now. Immigration attorneys urge scrubbing profiles of controversial content, such as political posts or event shares, and advise against rescheduling attempts that could worsen delays.​

Experts see this as part of broader H-1B tightening under President Trumps 2025 agenda, emphasizing US worker priorities amid heightened security. Those impacted might turn to premium processing or alternatives like Canadian visas, though slots are filling fast. For Indias $200 billion IT sector, reliant on these migrations, the shift could redirect talent to Europe or boost domestic hiring trends.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Times. of India.