US Embassy In India Says Vetting Now In Place For H-1B, H-4 Visa Applicants, Delays Expected

The US Embassy in India on Monday announced a significant expansion of visa screening procedures for H-1B and H-4 applicants, confirming that beginning December 15, the United States has widened online presence reviews to cover all applicants under these categories as part of standard visa adjudication.

In a post on social media platform X, the embassy mentioned, “Worldwide alert for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening.”

It further clarified that the vetting is being carried out globally and applies to “ALL applicants of ALL nationalities for H1-B and H-4 visas.”

The embassy described the enhanced screening

measures as part of a broader effort to ensure the integrity of the H-1B visa programme.

“It is an effort to address abuse of the H-1B program while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers,” the post said.

While confirming that the new vetting process may result in delays, the US Embassy stressed that visa operations remain ongoing.

“US embassies and consulates continue to accept and process H-1B and H-4 nonimmigrant visa applications,” it said, advising applicants to “apply as early as they can and anticipate additional processing time for these visa classifications.”

WORLDWIDE ALERT FOR H-1B AND H-4 VISA APPLICANTS

Beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening. This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities… pic.twitter.com/qMrMrOvqy0

— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) December 22, 2025

The announcement comes amid widespread disruption to visa processing schedules in India, where thousands of pre-scheduled H-1B visa interviews slated from December 15 onwards have been abruptly postponed by several months.

According to affected applicants, interviews originally fixed for mid-December have been deferred to March, while some appointments scheduled later in the month have been pushed to as late as May.

The mass rescheduling of interviews has caused hardship for many applicants, particularly those who had already travelled to India for their visa appointments.

A large number of such applicants are currently unable to return to the United States as they do not hold valid H-1B visas required for re-entry, raising concerns about prolonged work disruptions.

Indian professionals form one of the largest groups of H-1B visa holders, especially in sectors such as information technology and healthcare.

The latest development coincides with a broader crackdown by the US authorities on alleged misuse of the H-1B programme and illegal immigration.

In earlier posts, the US Embassy has consistently underlined that a US visa is “a privilege, not a right.”

In a June 19 post on X, the embassy stated, “A US visa is a privilege, not a right. US visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued – and we may revoke your visa if you break the law.”

The Indian government has acknowledged the expanded screening measures.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on December 18, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the US administration has announced that “every visa adjudication is a national security decision.”

He added that expanded screening applies to student, exchange visitor, H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, impacting appointment schedules.

Singh also noted that visa issuance and related policies are the sovereign prerogative of the issuing country, while adding that India “remains engaged” with the US to promote secure and mutually beneficial mobility frameworks for students and professionals.

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