Indian applicants seeking a US visa have been urged to stay alert. Even a small mistake, like showing up on the wrong date, can land you in major trouble. Recently, the US Embassy in India posted a guideline for all visa applicants. Several applicants have received new dates for their interviews, and the embassy wants everyone to check their email and follow the updated schedule to avoid any confusion.
The guidelines came after the US expanded its security checks for H-1B workers and their H-4 family members, which were earlier limited to students on an F1 visa. From December 15, officers will start checking their public social media profiles as part of background screening.
What the Embassy said
In a post on X, the US embassy wrote: “If you received an email saying your visa appointment has been rescheduled, you must come on your new date. Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate.” This warning comes at a time when the US has brought in several fresh changes for different visa categories.
In case of any confusion or visa-related questions, the embassy also urged applicants to contact Mission India. In its post on X, it wrote, “Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date.”
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…
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) December 9, 2025
This season is one of the busiest for visa applications in India. Because of the new rules, thousands of people will now face major disruptions. Many workers planned their trips home during the holidays to renew their visas. But the sudden rescheduling means they cannot return to the US until they get fresh interview dates.
The US has recently ruled that workers cannot go to a third country (like Canada or Singapore) for their interviews. They must get stamped only in their home country.
New rule: H-1B and H-4 applicants must make social media public
Visa officers will now use all available online information to decide whether a person may pose a risk to US national security or public safety. Earlier, only students (F-1), M, and J visa applicants had to face this. Now, skilled workers and their spouses/dependents are included too. Applicants must make sure their privacy settings are open so officers can view their social media activity.
This is the second major crackdown on H-1B visas after the Trump administration imposed a hefty $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas last September. According to Bloomberg, the US State Department has begun pushing back H-1B interview dates in India, particularly those scheduled for mid to late December. Many H-1B and H-4 appointments are now being moved as late as next summer. This also means that workers who planned to renew their visas during trips to India could be stuck there for months.
One email reviewed by Bloomberg read, “Due to operational constraints related to processing these visas, and to ensure no applicant issued a visa poses a threat to US national security or public safety, we must reduce the number of applicants each day. Biometric appointments will stay the same, but interview dates are being postponed.
Consular officers have also been told to look closely at work involving “censorship of free speech”. They’re asked to check applicants’ resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and other online activity.
