The new social media vetting policy from the US State Department caused major delays for H-1B Visa applicants in India. Many appointments have pushed to next year. The US Embassy in India sent out an advisory to visa applicants on Tuesday night.
“If you received an email saying that your visa appointment has rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to helping you on your new appointment date,” the advisory mentioned.
USA Postponed the H-1B Visa appointments
The Embassy also warned that any visa applicant who shows up at the consulate on a date they originally scheduled for after receiving a notification about the reschedule will denied entry. “Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate,” the Embassy said.
Interviews planned for mid to late December moved to March next year. However, the exact number of rescheduled appointments is unclear.
Strictness of the screening measures
The US government has expanded screening measures for H-1B Visa applicants and their H-4 dependents. Applicants must keep the privacy settings on all their social media profiles set to “public.” Officials start reviewing their online presence on December 15 to find visa applicants who not allowed into the country or who could threaten America’s national security or public safety. Students and exchange visitors have already faced similar scrutiny.
“Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,” the State Department said. This social media screening is the latest examination of the H-1B program. This program is the main immigration route for skilled foreign workers and has faced increased pressure from the Trump administration.
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