The United States Embassy has issued a global alert for H-1B visa and H-4 visa applicants amid expanded online presence reviews and enhanced security vetting, leading to widespread interview delays and growing uncertainty for thousands of Indian professionals. The move has come as a major concern for Indian technology workers, doctors, and their families, who form one of the largest groups of H-1B visa holders worldwide.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, the US Embassy in India announced that beginning December 15, the US Department of State has expanded online presence reviews to all H-1B Visa and H-4 Visa applicants, regardless of nationality. This step has been incorporated as part of standard visa screening procedures and is being conducted globally.
“Worldwide alert for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants. Beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to all H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening,” the embassy stated, urging applicants to apply as early as possible and anticipate longer processing times.
Mass Interview Postponements Disrupt Travel Plans
The alert comes at a time when thousands of pre-scheduled H-1B visa interviews in India have been abruptly postponed by several months. Applicants who had interviews scheduled from December 15 onwards received emails informing them that their appointments had been rescheduled to dates as late as March or even May 2026.
Several Indian professionals who had already travelled to India for visa renewals now find themselves stranded, unable to return to the United States due to expired visas. Reports indicate that applicants with interviews scheduled on December 15 were reassigned dates in March, while those scheduled for December 19 received new appointments in late May.
The delays are expected to significantly affect American companies that rely heavily on skilled foreign workers, especially in the technology, healthcare, and research sectors.
Enhanced Vetting to Address Abuse of H-1B Programme
According to the US Embassy, the expanded vetting measures are aimed at curbing misuse of the H-1B visa programme while still allowing US companies to hire top global talent.
“US embassies and consulates continue to accept and process H-1B visa and H-4 visa non-immigrant visa applications,” the statement said, adding that the new screening process is designed to strengthen national security and ensure programme integrity.
The US government has repeatedly emphasised that a US visa is “a privilege, not a right.” In previous posts, the embassy has clarified that visa screening does not end once a visa is issued and that visas may be revoked if applicants violate US laws.
Social Media Scrutiny Expanded Across Visa Categories
The enhanced online presence review follows earlier announcements requiring applicants for F, M, and J visas to set their social media profiles to public for identity verification and admissibility checks. The same scrutiny now applies to H-1B workers and their dependents under the H-4 category.
India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, informed the Rajya Sabha earlier this month that the US administration now considers every visa adjudication a national security decision. He confirmed that screening and vetting procedures have been expanded under notifications issued in June and December.
Impact on Indian Professionals
Indian nationals remain the backbone of the H-1B visa workforce, particularly in Silicon Valley and the US healthcare system. The ongoing delays have caused anxiety among professionals who risk losing employment, pay continuity, and immigration status due to prolonged absence from the US.
Major technology firms such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft have reportedly advised H-1B employees to avoid international travel until the situation stabilises.
As the US intensifies its crackdown on illegal immigration and visa abuse, the latest developments underline the growing complexity of legal immigration pathways for skilled workers. While the embassy maintains that visa processing continues, the real-world impact of the expanded vetting has left thousands of Indian applicants in limbo.
