US H-1B Visa Chaos in India: Social Media Vetting Pushes Appointments to 2026

• US H-1B visa appointments in India are being rescheduled to March 2026 and beyond due to a new mandatory social media vetting policy.
• The new policy requires H-1B applicants and H-4 dependents to set all social media profiles to "public" starting December 15 for security screening.
• The US State Department justifies the expanded screening as "Every visa adjudication is a national security decision."
• The US Embassy in India confirmed postponements, advising applicants not to attend previously scheduled interview dates if notified of a reschedule.
• Widespread cancellations, particularly for mid to late December interviews, add to a tightening immigration landscape for skilled foreign workers.

Why It Matters: H-1B visa appointments delayed to 2026 due to new US social media vetting.