H-1B visa curbs: US reschedules December interviews to 2026; tighter social media checks slow processing

Hundreds of H-1B and H-4 visa appointments scheduled for mid- to late-December 2025 are being cancelled and pushed to March 2026 as US consulates overhaul screening procedures, according to immigration firm Fragomen, according to an ET report.

Consular posts have cited a new mandatory online presence review for H-1B applicants and their dependents that comes into effect on December 15. Under the revised process, applicants will be required to make their social media accounts publicly accessible for assessment by visa officers.