The US State Department’s new social media vetting policy has triggered widespread disruption for H-1B visa applicants in India, with many reporting the cancellation of previously scheduled visa appointments.

The affected interviews are those scheduled on or after 15 December, and applicants are being instructed to reschedule their visa interviews.

According to multiple reports, the cancellations are linked to the rollout of the new policy, which requires consular officers to review applicants’ online presence, including their social media activity.

This additional requirement has reduced the number of appointments available, causing significant inconvenience for applicants who had planned their travel and visa processing months in advance.

US business immigration attorney James Hollis

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