U.S. consulates across India have begun cancelling and
automatically rescheduling H-1B and H-4 visa appointments (often 90
to 120 days later) due to the new online presence and social media
vetting rules taking effect Dec. 15, 2025. Although the Department
of State (DOS) has not issued a formal announcement, all major
posts, including Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi are
implementing the same operational changes.
Individuals who already traveled abroad or made travel plans and
then received notices that their visa interviews were rescheduled
into next year may be most affected right now. These applicants may
now face extended time outside the United States. Expanded social
media vetting and enhanced security background checks are also
increasing the likelihood that applicants might experience delays
abroad even after completing their visa interviews, as more cases
are routed into administrative processing.
