US expands social media vetting for H-1B, H-4 visas, major impact on Indian applicants

The US Department of State has announced that H-1B visa applicants and their H-4 dependents will now be subjected to mandatory online presence reviews starting December 15. This process already in place for F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas requires applicants to make all social media accounts publicly viewable.

The move is significant for India, as Indians constitute the largest group of H-1B applicants worldwide and account for over 70% of approved H-1B visas annually. The new rule means thousands of Indian tech workers, professionals, and their families will now face heightened scrutiny of their online activity during visa processing.

The State Department said the expanded vetting aims to strengthen national security checks and ensure applicants do not pose risks to public safety. Authorities emphasised that each visa decision is treated as a security determination, and applicants must show credible intent to follow the terms of their visa.

With the US remaining the top destination for Indian IT professionals, students, and skilled workers, the policy change has sparked concern among Indian applicants, many of whom fear delays or rejections based on interpretations of their online content.