Starting December 15, 2025, expanded US visa vetting requirements mandating public social media profiles have caused widespread interview cancellations for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants. Most December 2025 appointments have been automatically rescheduled to March 2026, leaving hundreds of visa holders stranded in India.
Widespread Interview Cancellations and Rescheduling
The new vetting requirements have caused significant disruption for applicants scheduled for December 2025 interviews. Many H-1B visa holders received emails notifying them that their consular appointments for December have been cancelled and rescheduled, with new interview dates frequently pushed to March 2026.
Hundreds of H-1B visa holders are currently in India after the US State Department cancelled most December appointments and moved them to early 2026. This has created uncertainty for professionals planning to return to work in the United States.
Steps for Affected Visa Applicants
Immigration attorney Saimithra Reddy, managing attorney at Mithra Law Firm, provided guidance for H-1B visa applicants navigating these changes.
How to Check Your Rescheduled Interview Date
Most US consulates are automatically rescheduling cancelled interviews. Applicants should take the following steps:
- Check email for messages from the US consulate confirming the new interview date
- Log into the CEAC portal to view updated appointment dates
- Verify that the rescheduled date has been officially assigned
Preparing for Your Rescheduled Interview
For applicants who can keep their rescheduled date, Reddy recommends the following preparation steps:
- Print the interview appointment notice
- Set all social media profiles to public visibility
- Ensure LinkedIn profile information matches the visa application details
- Remove social media content that could be interpreted unfavorably during the consular review
- Review all online presence carefully before the interview date
Manual Rescheduling Through CEAC Portal
Applicants who find the automatically assigned interview date too distant may reschedule once through the CEAC portal. Important considerations include:
- MRV fee payment may be required again for rescheduling
- Consider booking appointments at different consulate locations if slots are unavailable at the current location
- Only one manual reschedule is permitted through the portal
Requesting Expedited Interview Processing
Applicants meeting specific criteria can request expedited processing of their visa interview. Eligible circumstances include:
- Urgent business requirements necessitating immediate return to the US
- Medical needs requiring return by a fixed date
- Imminent job start date or risk of employment loss due to delay
- Dependents in the US facing hardship from prolonged absence
Reddy cautioned that expedited requests are granted at consular discretion and require compelling emergency documentation. Not all requests will be approved.
Important Travel Advisory for Visa Applicants
Reddy issued specific warnings regarding international travel during the rescheduling period:
“If you have international travel plans and would need to get stamped prior to re-entry into the US, it is highly advised that you cancel those upcoming plans.”
For applicants already outside the United States whose interviews have been cancelled, Reddy advised staying in contact with employers and providing regular updates on visa processing status.
Impact of Social Media Vetting Requirements
The December 15, 2025 implementation of mandatory social media vetting represents a significant expansion of consular review procedures. Applicants must now:
- Maintain public social media profiles throughout the application process
- Ensure professional profiles accurately reflect application information
- Be prepared for consular officers to review online content and activity
- Understand that content perceived as anti-American views may affect application outcomes
Timeline and Processing Expectations
With most December 2025 interviews rescheduled to March 2026, applicants face delays of approximately three months. This timeline may vary based on:
- Specific consulate location and scheduling capacity
- Availability of expedited processing slots
- Individual case circumstances and documentation
Applicants should monitor their CEAC portal regularly for any updates or changes to scheduled interview dates.
