H-1B Holders Stranded Abroad As US Consulates Cancel Interviews Over Vetting Backlog, Check Guidelines For Indians | India News
Thousands of H-1B visa holders and applicants are facing increasing uncertainty as the Trump administration prepares to implement mandatory social media screening, resulting in mass cancellations and rescheduling of visa interviews at consulates around the world.
Under the Trump administration’s new rule, which went into effect Dec. 15, all applicants for an H-1B visa and their accompanying H-4 dependents must set their online profiles to “public” for mandatory screening. Consulates appear to be limiting their daily meeting capacity to conduct the new review, causing major delays.
Appointment Backlog Workers
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Immigration law firms reported that in-country consulates began canceling interviews originally scheduled for mid-to-late December 2025. Many appointments in places like Hyderabad and Chennai have been dramatically postponed, some until March 2026.
Travel interrupted: The rescheduling has left H-1B holders in a difficult position who traveled to their home countries for personal reasons, such as attending family weddings or accompanying elderly parents, and now need a visa stamp to return to their jobs in the United States.
Official Approval: The US Embassy in India also confirmed the appointment change, countering the miscommunication about
As a result, immigration attorneys now advise foreign nationals in H-1B status to avoid international travel unless absolutely necessary.
Increased Reviews and Cancellations
The new screening rule requires consulates to spend more time per applicant, resulting in reduced daily interview slots and the current wave of cancellations. This is part of the State Department’s broader sanctions:
Current Cancellations: There are already occasional reports of US residents’ H-1B visas being revoked due to social media activity.
Historical Precedent: In May 2025, the State Department pulled the plug on scheduling appointments for F, M, and J visas (students and exchange visitors) to revise social media review rules; this was a similar delay until appointments resumed under stricter conditions in June.
US Maintains Strict Enforcement Signals
The wave of cancellations coincides with a broader announcement that the US government’s tough sanctions remain. The U.S. State Department recently updated its numbers at
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