US Expands H-1B Social Media Screening, Indian Applicants Face Delays But Emergency Cases Move

• US State Department expanded social media screening for H-1B and H-4 visas, causing processing delays, especially for Indian applicants.
• New procedure, effective December 15, involves passport retention, administrative processing, and initial refusals.
• An Indian applicant at US Consulate in Chennai experienced initial "refused" status, which changed to "approved" in two days, with passport ready by December 22.
• Emergency visa requests are being processed, though with reported delays of one to two weeks.
• Applicants are advised patience, to carry updated DS-160, and ensure accurate disclosure of all social media accounts.

Why It Matters: H-1B/H-4 applicants face new social media screening delays, but emergency cases are moving; transparency is key.