US Social Media Vetting Delays H-1B Visas for Indians

• US introduces new social media vetting for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, effective December 15.
• Applicants must set social media accounts to public for review; consular officers will check for involvement in censorship or misinformation.
• The policy has led to H-1B visa appointments being pushed to next year, with many December slots cancelled, particularly impacting Indian applicants.
• The US State Department states vetting is to identify threats and ensure applicants do not harm American interests.
• The new rules significantly impact Indians, who comprise over 70% of H-1B visa approvals and nearly 90% of H-4 EAD holders.

Why It Matters: New US social media vetting rules are delaying H-1B/H-4 visas, especially for Indians.