Many H-1B, H-4 visa appointments cancelled as new social media review is set to kicks in

Following the recent policy change by the Trump administration of mandatory social-media screening (from Dec 15) of all applicants for H-1B and H-4 visas (spouse and dependent children of the H-1B visa holder) – these individuals are facing a fresh disruption. Immigration attorneys are reporting that interview slots at US consulates scheduled for mid to end Dec 2025 have been cancelled, including those in India such as at the Hyderabad and Chennai consulates. The interviews have been deferred by several months – in many instances these have been pushed to March next year. Illustrating the woes of their clients, immigration attorneys told TOI that some were those who are now stranded are those taking up new jobs, others were on a visit to India but needed stamping –they were on a brief