The Donald Trump administration on Monday included all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants under its social media vetting process.
“This vetting is being conducted globally for all applicants of all nationalities for H-1B and H-4 visas," the US Department of State said. It added that the move is part of its effort to address abuse of the H-1B programme "while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers."
When reviewing a visa application, US immigration officials will examine publicly available data from the applicant's social media accounts over the past five years. This process helps identify any potential security risks and verify the information provided in the application to assess whether the individual should be permitted entry into the US.
The State Department urged candidates to apply as early as possible and expect additional processing time for H-1B and H-4.
Earlier, THE WEEK reported that pre-scheduled interviews of thousands of H-1B visa applicants in India. The affected applicants had their interviews schedueld from mid-December. But they are now postponed to March-May 2026.
Many of the affected applicants have returned to India and are unable to travel back for their jobs due to not having a valid H1B visa. Other visa categories are also being impacted by the new regulations.
The US embassy in India had earlier informed applicants not to come to the consular offices based on their previously scheduled interview date.
"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 to the Embassy or Consulate," it stated.