US issues ‘worldwide alert’ for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants days after social media screening rules, advises ‘people to apply as…’

The H-1B visa is widely used by American companies, especially in the technology sector, to hire skilled foreign workers. Indian professionals make up one of the largest groups of H-1B visa holders.

Dec 23, 2025 - 19:00

US issues ‘worldwide alert’ for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants days after social media screening rules, advises ‘people to apply as…’

The US government has issued a worldwide alert for H-1B visa applicants as confusion and delays continue during visa interviews. The alert comes after the Doland Trump administration introduced new social media screening rules in mid-December. These changes have slowed down visa processing and left many applicants stuck in their home countries while waiting for interviews and approvals.

In a post on X, the US Embassy in India(BHARAT) said that US embassies and consulates are still accepting and processing H-1B and H-4 visa applications. However, it advised applicants to apply as early as possible and be prepared for longer processing times.

The worldwide alert also repeated the new policy change, stating that the US Department of State has expanded online and social media checks for all H-1B and H-4 applicants. The screening now applies to all nationalities, not just selected countries.

“WORLDWIDE ALERT FOR H-1B AND H-4 VISA APPLICANTS. Beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening. This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities for H1-B and H-4 visas (sic),” the US Embassy said in a post on X.

WORLDWIDE ALERT FOR H-1B AND H-4 VISA APPLICANTS
Beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening. This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities… pic.twitter.com/qMrMrOvqy0
— U.S. Embassy India(BHARAT) (@USAndIndia(BHARAT)) December 22, 2025

The Trump administration has defended the move, saying the stricter checks are meant to prevent misuse of the H-1B visa programme, while still allowing US companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers when needed.

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Why the H-1B visa matters for India(BHARAT)n professionals

The H-1B visa is widely used by American companies, especially in the technology sector, to hire skilled foreign workers. India(BHARAT)n professionals make up one of the largest groups of H-1B visa holders. This includes software engineers, IT specialists, and doctors working in the United States.

This update comes at a time when the United States has stepped up action against misuse of the H-1B programme and illegal immigration. As part of this effort, the US government has introduced stricter screening rules, which have slowed down visa processing.

Because of these new policies, hundreds of India(BHARAT)n applicants are facing long delays. Visa interviews scheduled from December 15 onwards have been postponed and rescheduled months later. Many interviews have been cancelled in bulk due to enhanced background and social media checks.

As a result, several India(BHARAT)n professionals who had travelled to India(BHARAT) for visa appointments are now stranded. Without a valid H-1B visa stamp, they cannot return to the US to resume their jobs. For instance, applicants with interviews fixed for December 15 were later informed that their new dates would be sometime in March, while those scheduled for December 19 were pushed to late May.

These delays are causing serious disruption to careers and adding uncertainty for India(BHARAT)n workers employed in the US under the H-1B programme.