A new US State Department rule requiring all H-1B workers/applicants and their H-4 dependents to make their social media accounts public for visa verification, both for renewals and new applications, has caused deep anxiety in Indian immigrant communities, who make up the overwhelming majority of high-skilled visa holders in the United States.
The policy, which will take effect on December 15, comes at a time when Indians account for more than 70 percent of all H-1B approvals and nearly 90 percent of H-4 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) holders, many of whom have built careers, mortgages, and their children’s education around uninterrupted legal status.
Immigration attorneys say the new mandate, which allows consular officials to review applicants’ public posts on platforms like X, Instagram and LinkedIn, has created palpable fear. Even mundane comments, political opinions, or misaligned resume details could prompt additional scrutiny.
For many, anxiety has already turned into disturbance. Tech companies with a large Indian workforce advise their employees to audit social profiles, avoid sharing political memes and use professional emails in requests.
According to a report in The times of IndiaVisa interview appointments at Indian consulates were abruptly cancelled, including those in Hyderabad and Chennai. Many applicants learned their December places had been postponed until March 2026, leaving new employees unable to start work, families stranded abroad and travelers stranded after short visits home for weddings or to leave parents.
According to the State Department, the new rule expands the review of the online presence already used for students and exchange visitors. “Each visa award is a national security decision,” the agency said. Applicants must now adapt all social media profiles to public settings to allow agents to inspect them.
The department defended the policy as essential to identifying threats. “A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the guidance says, emphasizing that background investigations will help ensure that applicants “do not intend to harm Americans or our national interests.”
US EMBASSY IN INDIA MAY WARNING
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in India on Tuesday warned visa applicants not to show up on their old interview dates if they have already been notified of a rescheduling. Anyone arriving on a previously scheduled date, officials warned, will be turned away at the door.
In a post on
The reminder comes at a time when visa interview slots are in high demand and wait times routinely stretch for months.
Immigration attorney Steven Brown said the disruptions are widespread. “Mission India confirms what we have been hearing. They have canceled several appointments in the coming weeks and rescheduled them for March to allow for social media investigation,” Brown said.
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