A new US State Department rule requiring H-1B visa applicants and their H-4 dependents to make social media profiles public has sparked widespread concern among Indian immigrants, who form the majority of these visa categories.
The policy, which takes effect on Dec 15, has already led to visa interview cancellations and delays across consulates in India, threatening jobs, travel plans, and family reunions, reported India Today.
Under the new rule, consular officers will be allowed to review public posts on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn to assess the applicants’ eligibility during visa adjudications.
Immigration lawyers warn that even innocuous political remarks, memes, or discrepancies in work history could result in additional scrutiny or delays. Applicants must now ensure their social media accounts are public to allow for this vetting.
Indians account for over 70% of H-1B approvals and nearly 90% of H-4 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) holders, reported The Times of India. These visa holders often have long-term careers, mortgages, and children enrolled in American schools, making legal status continuity critical.
The sudden imposition of this rule has created turmoil.
Multiple applicants have reported that visa appointments at US consulates in Hyderabad and Chennai have been abruptly cancelled or pushed to March 2026, causing uncertainty, reported Business Today. The delays have left some new hires unable to start jobs, while others remain stranded in India after visiting for family functions.
In response, tech firms with large Indian workforces are now advising employees to audit their online presence, avoid sharing political content, and use professional email IDs when filing visa paperwork.
The US Embassy in India issued a warning on X: “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.”
The State Department has defended the new policy as a national security measure, stating: “A US visa is a privilege, not a right. Every visa adjudication is a national security decision.”
The regulation extends an existing protocol applied to student and exchange visa categories and aims to identify potential threats more effectively.
However, for many Indian families and professionals, it has introduced yet another barrier to already complex immigration processes.
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11 Dec 2025 14:23
