As per the recent announcement by Department of State’s, starting mid-December 2025, all H-1B and H-4 applicants must undergo an enhanced digital background check before their visa interviews. This includes:
- Review of publicly accessible social-media profiles
- Examination of posts, comments, photos, past usernames, and connections
- Assessment of online activity for legitimacy, security risk, or inconsistencies
The new social media screening process requires additional time and personnel, which has forced U.S. consulates to:
- Reduce the number of daily visa interviews
- Cancel appointments scheduled before the screening system is fully active
- Automatically reschedule applicants to later, available dates
In many countries — especially those with high H-1B demand — this has caused an unexpected bottleneck, and many H-1B and H-4 applicants with visa interviews scheduled for December 2025, have received emails that their visa interviews have been rescheduled to March or April 2026.
Travel Plans Are Being Disrupted
Those who traveled abroad for visa stamping may be stuck until their new appointment date — affecting their jobs, families, and status.
If the social-media review flags inconsistencies or concerning content, applications may enter administrative processing, extending delays further.
Even H-4 dependents — spouses and children — must now undergo these checks, increasing the complexity for family travel.
What Applicants Should Do Now
- Make all listed social-media accounts public to allow for review. Ensure information on your profile aligns with what you’ve submitted on visa forms.
- Avoid non-essential travel until the process stabilizes.
- Monitor email and the consulate’s official channels
- Rescheduling may happen with little warning.