US Embassy India: ‘ATTENTION VISA APPLICANTS, If you have received an email …’

US Embassy India has shared an important advisory for visa applicants in the country. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the embassy warned applicants that arriving on the previously scheduled appointment date will lead to refusal of entry at the Consulate or Embassy.

The post comes amidst postponement of H-1B visa interviews in India after the rollout of new social media vetting rules. According to a Bloomberg report, the US State Department is postponing H-1B visa interviews in India slated for later this month, citing constraints from new social media scrutiny for the visa category. As per the report, interviews scheduled between mid to late December are being pushed back as late as next summer, which means that foreign workers renewing visa stamps could face delay in returning to the US for months while they wait for new appointments.Notably, the US had already started reviewing the social media profiles of F-1 student visa applicants. Like student visa seekers, H-1B visa applicants and their dependents (seeking H-4 visa) are required to make their social media profiles public from December 15 onwards.

US Embassy India’s advisory to visa applicants

In its official post on X, the US Embassy India writes:“ATTENTION VISA APPLICANTS - If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date. Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate.”

What is new social media screening rules for H-1B visa

Earlier this month, the department announced that it will begin social media screening of H-1B applicants and family members on dependent visas.

Social media reviews is the latest attempt by the Trump administration to investigate violations connected to employment of foreign workers on the visas. In September this year, the US introduced a $1,00,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications.“The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission,” the State Department then said in its announcement.