H-4 dependents
US Tightens Visa Rules: Tourist Applications Rejected for Birth Tourism and Expanded Social Media Screening for H-1B Applicants
Dec 11, 2025 09:45 pm CST
The US embassy in India has announced stricter visa policies, rejecting tourist visa applications if consular officers determine the primary purpose is birth tourism. Additionally, the US has expanded social media screening to include all H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents, effective December 15. This development follows the Trump administration's directive to enhance security protocols, creating uncertainty for thousands of visa applicants whose appointments are being rescheduled during the implementation of these new measures.
US Implements Social Media Vetting for H-1B Visas: Indian Applicants Face Appointment Delays Until March 2026
Dec 10, 2025 10:37 am CST
The US State Department's new social media vetting policy has caused significant disruptions for H-1B visa applicants from India, with appointments being rescheduled from December 2025 to March 2026. This enhanced screening requires applicants to maintain public social media profiles for review, as part of broader immigration restrictions under the Trump administration that also include increased visa fees and heightened security measures.
New US Policy Requires H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants to Make Social Media Profiles Public for Enhanced Security Screening
Dec 04, 2025 03:57 pm CST
Starting December 15, the US State Department will implement new vetting procedures requiring all H-1B visa applicants and their H-4 dependents to set their social media profiles to "public" as part of enhanced security screening. This measure, previously applied only to students and exchange visitors, represents the latest in a series of immigration restrictions under the Trump administration, which has also introduced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas and paused immigration applications from 19 countries of concern.