Why Are H-1B Visa Appointments Being Postponed?

The US visa processing is getting more tighter by the day. The H-1B visa applicants from India might have to wait till September for clearance as the January slots have been pushed to a later date next year, as social media vetting is intensified. The extended delay in the processing of H-1B visas crashed the hopes of many skilled workers aspiring to travel to the US for better jobs.

The H-1B and H-4 visa appointments scheduled for December 2025 are being cancelled and rescheduled for March 2026. The cancellation of H-1B and H-4 applications is being attributed to the review process of social media and online presence starting December 15.

Applicants and their dependents are being mandatorily asked to make their social media accounts public for review, as part of the expanded background checks. The social media vetting has reduced the number of interviews conducted each day, leading to cancellation of appointments and rescheduling the same.

The Trump administration brought a change earlier that one can apply for a visa from their country of nationality or residence only. Now, the delay due to social media vetting is really becoming a problem both for the employers and employees already in the process of stamping.

The delay in the process forced many workers to postpone joining dates and disrupted their travel plans. The broader changes to the H-1B programme have led to the delays. In early 2025, the US government introduced modernization rules tightening the definitions of specialty occupations and increasing compliance requirements for employers. Months later in September, a one-time $100,000 fee was announced for all new H-1B visa applicants, adding to the pressure on employers.

The policy change and social media vetting together are leading to appointment delays confusing the employers and applicants alike.