US expands online vetting to H-1B, H-4 visa applicants worldwide; delays likely

The United States has expanded social media and online presence checks for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants worldwide, a move that could lead to longer processing times for one of the most sought-after work visa categories, including among Indian professionals.

In a post on X on Monday, the US Embassy in India said that from December 15, the US Department of State has broadened its online presence review as part of standard visa screening to cover every H-1B and H-4 applicant, regardless of nationality or country of application. Earlier, such checks were applied selectively.

The embassy clarified that the vetting is being conducted globally for all applicants and is aimed at addressing abuse of the H-1B programme, while continuing to allow US companies to recruit “the best of the best” temporary foreign workers. The H-1B visa is primarily used by American firms to hire skilled foreign professionals, particularly in technology, engineering and specialised services, while the H-4 visa is issued to their immediate family members.

Despite the expanded scrutiny, the embassy said US embassies and consulates will continue to accept and process H-1B and H-4 visa applications. However, applicants have been advised to apply as early as possible and to be prepared for additional processing time due to the enhanced checks.

The announcement is significant for Indian applicants, who account for a large share of H-1B approvals each year, and comes amid heightened focus by US authorities on tightening compliance and preventing misuse of employment-based visa programmes.

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