Amid increasingly stringent vetting procedures for H-1B and H-4 visas, an Indian-American immigration attorney is urging visa holders to exercise caution, particularly on social media. These warnings come in the wake of policy changes implemented by the previous administration, leading to heightened scrutiny for non-immigrant visa holders, especially those in the H-1B category.
The U.S. Department of State has broadened its screening process for H-1B "specialty occupation" visas and H-4 dependent visas at U.S. embassies and consulates. Effective December 15, 2025, consular officers began a mandatory review of each applicant's publicly available online presence, including social media accounts, as part of the visa adjudication. Applicants are now instructed to set their social media privacy settings to "public" to allow officers access to review their content. This expanded vetting initiative underscores the importance of thorough preparation for visa renewals and overseas travel involving H-1B and H-4 visas.
The enhanced scrutiny includes expanded social media reviews, requiring applicants to make their privacy settings public for vetting purposes, enhanced background checks, and additional scrutiny of employment records and educational qualifications to ensure compliance with visa rules. Consular officers may review public posts, comments, photos, affiliations, and other online content across platforms like X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. They may also examine LinkedIn and other professional profiles for consistency with petition details, such as job title, employer, dates, and duties.
Immigration attorney Aparna Dave emphasized in an interview that visa holders should avoid international travel unless absolutely necessary, advising them to remain in the United States. She also cautioned against posting anything political or religious on social media, stating that it is "sometimes just not worth it".
These changes are significantly impacting Indians seeking employment opportunities in the U.S., as they remain the largest group applying for H-1B visas. In fiscal year 2024, 283,397 Indian citizens received H-1B visas, accounting for 71% of all approvals.
The stricter vetting process and policy changes are causing significant delays in visa interview appointments, with some applicants reporting their appointments being pushed back by several months or even a year. These delays have serious consequences, causing people to postpone travel, family emergencies, and career opportunities. Some H-1B holders who traveled to India to renew their visas have had their appointments canceled, leaving them stranded.
Employers should advise affected employees to review their public online presence and plan conservatively for potential delays in visa interviews and issuance when coordinating international travel, start dates, or return-to-work timelines.
