As a result of a new U.S. Department of State (DOS) policy, all foreign nationals with H-1B and H-4 visa appointments scheduled on or after December 15, 2025 will be subject to an online presence review. All H-1B and H-4 visa applicants are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on their social media profiles to “public.” Due to this new social media review requirement and the time it takes to complete the vetting of each applicant, consular posts have been reportedly reducing the availability of visa appointments. In some cases, this has required rescheduling visa appointment interviews.
Earlier this week, some visa applicants (primarily with appointments at U.S. consulates in India) received notices that their December 2025 interviews had been rescheduled to as late as July 2026. Reports of delays have also been received for posts in Vietnam and Ireland. Reports from additional posts are expected.
Notices being issued to visa applicants state that they will not be seen on their initial appointment date and should only appear on their newly-assigned date. Applicants who cannot attend the new date may reschedule online. Applicants may reschedule only once, and only if their fee receipt is valid. A fee receipt older than one year is considered expired and cannot be used to reschedule. Fees may also be forfeit if the rescheduled appointment is missed or cancelled.
Rescheduling currently applies only to the visa interview date. Visa Application Center (VAC) biometrics appointments remain valid.
Suggested action items for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants:
- Check the visa appointment portal and your profile frequently before you depart the U.S. In particular, look for updated appointment letters or message-center notifications.
- Plan ahead. Visa applicants who travel abroad to apply for a visa may not be able to return to the U.S. for several months if their appointment is rescheduled. Employers and employees should discuss remote work and/or project deadlines that may be affected.
- Prepare to wait longer for a visa appointment while posts limit the number of daily interviews to accommodate the new vetting requirements. Keep in mind that you can only reschedule your interview date once and only if your fee receipt is less than one year old.
- Avoid non-essential travel if you have an expired H-1B or H-4 visa or are planning to apply for an initial H-1B or H-4 visa.
- Adjust the security setting on social media accounts prior to visa appointment.