A new US rule requiring H-1B and H-4 applicants to make social media public has sparked anxiety among Indians, as consulates cancel visa appointments and delays threaten jobs, travel and family plans.
A new US State Department rule requiring all H-1B workers/applicants and their H-4 dependents to make their social media accounts public for visa vetting — both in cases of renewal and fresh applications — has triggered deep anxiety across Indian immigrant communities, who make up the overwhelming majority of America’s high-skilled visa holders.
The policy, which takes effect December 15, comes as Indians account for more than 70 per cent of all H-1B approvals and nearly 90 per cent of H-4 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) holders, many of whom have built careers, mortgages and children’s schooling around uninterrupted legal status.
Immigration lawyers say the new mandate, which allows consular officers to review applicants’ public posts on platforms like X, Instagram and LinkedIn, has created palpable fear. Even mundane remarks, political opinions or misaligned resume details could trigger extra scrutiny.
