H-1B visa interviews cancelled as US enforces new social media screening rules

The introduction of mandatory social media checks for H-1B visa applicants has led to widespread cancellations of visa interviews and travel disruptions.

A new round of uncertainty has hit H-1B workers and their families just days before the United States begins mandatory social-media checks for these visa categories. The Trump administration’s rule, which takes effect on December 15, has triggered widespread rescheduling of visa interviews, leaving many applicants suddenly stranded.

Immigration lawyers said that consulates around the world, including those in Hyderabad and Chennai, have cancelled interview appointments originally set for mid to late December 2025. Many of these slots have now been pushed as far as March 2026, dramatically disrupting travel plans.

In this regard, the US