H-1B visa holders are facing significant interview reschedulings, with some appointments moved to March 2026, leaving them stranded in India. This disruption is linked to a new social media vetting policy by the US State Department, requiring applicants to make profiles public for review. The policy is causing widespread cancellations and delays, impacting thousands of individuals. Representative image NEW DELHI: An H-1B visa holder expressed their frustration over a sudden visa rescheduling that moved their December interview to March 2026 and left them unable to return to the US.The user shared their experience in a post on the workplace forum Blind. He said the rescheduling appears linked to a new social media vetting policy. Officials are now reviewing applicants’ posts on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to check for content seen as negative toward the US. H-1B Showdown: Amazon, Google Microsoft Pour Billions Into India as 20 States Sue Trump “So I am one of those unlucky souls who got hit by the mass rescheduling this week. I had my h1b interview scheduled for December and got an email saying its moved to March 2026. MARCH. That’s literally 3 months away,” the uservwrote.They said the lack of information from employers has made the situation worse. “The worst part is nobody knows what’s happening. The immigration team at my company is clueless, HR is giving generic responses like ‘we understand your frustration’ which helps exactly zero percent,” they added. The visa holder said they are currently stuck in India after their I-94 expired and are on unpaid leave. They’ve been relying on personal savings while waiting for updates and said a request to work from his company’s India office had not been answered.The user also noted that starting January 1, visa applicants will be allowed only one free rescheduling. If they miss the March appointment or needs to change it again, a visa fee of about Rs 16,000 will have to be paid. “Thousands of us got hit at the same time. december was supposed to be peak season for h1b stamping and they just wiped out the entire month. people who took expensive flights, booked hotels, all of that just gone,” they wrote.They ended the post by asking if others were facing the same situation and whether they were trying to get emergency appointments or arranging to work from India.The disruptions follow a new US State Department rule announced on December 3 that requires social-media screening for all H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents starting December 15. The rule is slowing down interviews, especially at busy consulates in Hyderabad and Chennai, and has led to mass cancellations of appointments originally scheduled for mid-to-late December 2025. Many of these appointments have been pushed into next year, with some as far out as June 2026.The US Embassy in India has warned that arriving on an old appointment date could lead to denial of entry. Immigration lawyers are now advising H-1B holders in the US to avoid non-essential travel.Under the new directive, all H-1B and H-4 applicants must make their social media profiles public so consular officers can review their online activity. Experts say this represents one of the largest expansions of digital-footprint scrutiny in the visa process to date.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. 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The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBusiness Leaders See Major Growth Potential In India-Oman Ties As PM Modi Visits Muscat‘Might Never See Him Again’: Imran Khan’s Sons Claim ‘Psychological Torture’ In Pak’s Adiala JailDelhi Pollution: China Shares Playbook On How To Fix Air Quality Amid Politics Over AccountabilityExplained: The ₹30 Crore Film Deal That Led To Bollywood Director Vikram Bhatt And His Wife’s ArrestIndia Strengthens Maritime Dominance As Second MH-60R Squadron Joins Indian Navy At INS HansaViksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill Explained: Education Reform Or A Quiet Erosion Of FederalismNational Herald Case: Kharge Alleges ED Misuse, BJP Strikes Back With ‘Most Corrupt Family’ DigFrom Vande Mataram To Shared Roots: Highlights Of PM Modi’s Historic Speech In Ethiopian ParliamentVande Mataram Echoes In Ethiopia As Singers Honour PM Modi At Banquet Hosted By Abiy Ahmed‘Jhukta Wahi Hai…’: Abhishek Banerjee Cites Kumbh To Defend TMC On Messi Event Chaos123Photostories7 US destinations with Christmas names you never knew existed5 foods to combine with amla during winter season and whyWhat is ‘food noise’ and how it may be impacting your appetite and behavior10 books that ruled google searches in 20257 skin symptoms that may signal uncontrolled diabetesFrom Ghost Promotion to Career Shrekking: 5 trends in 2025 that are defining the future of workChef Sanjeev Kapoor’s warm and comforting veg soups for winter monthsKajol × Manish Malhotra: The fashion love story Bollywood still can’t move on fromPariksha Pe Charcha 2026: 6 thoughtful questions to ask PM Modi this yearChristmas in South India: 10 destinations that you shouldn’t miss out on123Hot PicksBomb Threat AhmedabadPark Medi World sharesPunjab election result 2025Gold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays DecemberBank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingLuka DoncicStephen CurryMegan Thee StallionStephen Curry and Ayesha Curry RumorsConnor McDavid Luxury Car CollectionGoverment Job VacanciesBukayo Saka and Tolami Benson Net WorthSSN College AdmissionsFortnite Winterfest Release DateRussell Wilson Wife
NEW DELHI: An H-1B visa holder expressed their frustration over a sudden visa rescheduling that moved their December interview to March 2026 and left them unable to return to the US.The user shared their experience in a post on the workplace forum Blind. He said the rescheduling appears linked to a new social media vetting policy. Officials are now reviewing applicants’ posts on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to check for content seen as negative toward the US.
“So I am one of those unlucky souls who got hit by the mass rescheduling this week. I had my h1b interview scheduled for December and got an email saying its moved to March 2026. MARCH. That’s literally 3 months away,” the uservwrote.They said the lack of information from employers has made the situation worse. “The worst part is nobody knows what’s happening. The immigration team at my company is clueless, HR is giving generic responses like ‘we understand your frustration’ which helps exactly zero percent,” they added.
The visa holder said they are currently stuck in India after their I-94 expired and are on unpaid leave. They’ve been relying on personal savings while waiting for updates and said a request to work from his company’s India office had not been answered.The user also noted that starting January 1, visa applicants will be allowed only one free rescheduling. If they miss the March appointment or needs to change it again, a visa fee of about Rs 16,000 will have to be paid. “Thousands of us got hit at the same time. december was supposed to be peak season for h1b stamping and they just wiped out the entire month. people who took expensive flights, booked hotels, all of that just gone,” they wrote.They ended the post by asking if others were facing the same situation and whether they were trying to get emergency appointments or arranging to work from India.The disruptions follow a new US State Department rule announced on December 3 that requires social-media screening for all H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents starting December 15. The rule is slowing down interviews, especially at busy consulates in Hyderabad and Chennai, and has led to mass cancellations of appointments originally scheduled for mid-to-late December 2025. Many of these appointments have been pushed into next year, with some as far out as June 2026.The US Embassy in India has warned that arriving on an old appointment date could lead to denial of entry. Immigration lawyers are now advising H-1B holders in the US to avoid non-essential travel.Under the new directive, all H-1B and H-4 applicants must make their social media profiles public so consular officers can review their online activity. Experts say this represents one of the largest expansions of digital-footprint scrutiny in the visa process to date.
