New Delhi: The US Embassy in India said on Monday that from December 15, online presence reviews have been expanded to include all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants as part of standard screening procedures conducted globally.
The announcement comes amid widespread postponement of pre-scheduled visa interviews for thousands of H-1B applicants in India, with many appointments deferred by several months.
In a social media post, the embassy said the expanded vetting applies to applicants of all nationalities and is aimed at addressing misuse of the H-1B programme while allowing companies to hire skilled foreign workers.
Indian professionals, particularly in the technology and healthcare sectors, form one of the largest groups of H-1B visa holders.
The embassy said US missions worldwide continue to accept and process applications but advised applicants to apply early and prepare for longer processing times. All interviews scheduled from Dec. 15 onward have been rescheduled.
Many applicants who had already travelled to India are now stranded due to the lack of valid visas to return to the US. Some interviews initially scheduled for mid-December have been postponed to March or even May.
The US has repeatedly stated that a visa is a privilege, not a right. Earlier this year, applicants for certain student and exchange visas were also asked to make their social media accounts public for screening purposes.
Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the US considers every visa decision a national security matter and that India remains engaged with Washington to ensure smoother legal mobility for professionals and students.
