H-1B Applicants Told to Reschedule Appointments as New Social Media Screening Starts Dec 15

A major disruption hit H-1B visa applicants in India after the implementation of the US State Department’s new social-media vetting policy triggered widespread cancellation of scheduled visa interviews.

The appointments affected are primarily those slated for December 15 onwards, prompting applicants to receive official notices instructing them to reschedule, CNBC reported.

The cancellations appear to be tied to the rollout of the updated screening process, which now requires consular officers to review an applicant’s online presence — including social-media activity — as part of the background check. With officers needing additional time to implement and conduct these reviews, US posts in India have had to scale back the number of available interview slots, resulting in significant inconvenience during what is typically a peak travel period.

US business immigration attorney James Hollis expressed strong frustration over the move, calling the timing “deeply problematic,” especially for Indian nationals who had planned to return home during the holidays for 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 portion of the appointment. The affected interviews are on or after 15 December 2025. Applicants who are impacted are receiving emails from the post indicating that they should reschedule.” He added that consular posts have reduced interview availability because the new social-media vetting requirements need implementation and review time.

Another immigration expert, attorney Pamela Rangel, also noted that expanding social-media vetting to H-1B workers adds another layer of complexity to an already unpredictable visa-stamping process.

The US State Department recently confirmed that, beginning December 15, all H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents will undergo mandatory social-media screening. Applicants will also be required to keep their social-media profiles public to facilitate the review.

As the changes take effect, applicants are bracing for prolonged delays and rescheduling challenges, with uncertainty around how quickly interview availability will return to normal.