Mass Rescheduling of H-1B and H-4 Visa Appointments at US Consular Posts Due to New Social Media Screening Policy
At a Glance
Beginning December 8, 2025, there have been reports that U.S. consular posts, including Mission India, Ireland, and Vietnam, have started unilaterally rescheduling H-1B and H-4 visa appointments scheduled on or after December 15, 2025 due to the new social media review policy for H-1B workers and their dependents. Although the consular appointment booking websites have not been updated to reflect the reschedulings, applicants have been receiving notices that their visa interview appointments scheduled in December have been moved to Spring or Summer 2026. Posts have attributed the mass reschedulings to operational restraints resulting from the Department of State (DOS)'s implementation of the new online presence review policy for H-1B applicants and H-4 dependents, reducing daily interview capacity to accommodate the expanded vetting process.
Applicants are instructed not to appear on their original appointment dates and must attend only on the newly assigned date. Applicants may reschedule only once online, and fee receipts older than one year are considered expired and cannot be used to reschedule.
Visa applications at some consular posts, such as those in India, require a separate biometrics appointment. There is no need to attend the biometrics appointments that were booked before the rescheduling.
What this Means for Our Clients
Impact on Travel and Employment
Employers and H-1B employees should expect and plan for significant delays in H-1B/H4 visa applications at consular posts and embassies abroad. Employees who do not possess a valid H-1B visa stamp and who travel abroad to apply for an H-1B visa stamp may be delayed in returning to the United States if their appointment is rescheduled. For employees currently in the U.S. in valid H-1B status who do not possess valid H-1B visa stamps, we strongly advise against non-essential international travel since, in most cases, leaving the U.S. will trigger a requirement to apply for an H-1B visa before returning to the U.S. For any essential travel, we recommend that employees speak with an attorney before making travel plans.
Individuals outside the U.S. awaiting their H-1B visa appointments may face substantial delays in entering the U.S., potentially until spring or summer 2026. Employers should prepare for significant disruption to hiring timelines and project staffing.
Limited Flexibility
Applicants have only one opportunity to reschedule appointments online. Generally, visa fee receipts expire after one year. Visa applicants who are unable to attend their visa appointment within one year of payment may be required to pay the MRV fee again.
H-4 Dependents
Spouses and children on H-4 dependent visas face the same online presence / social media review as H-1B principals and may be rescheduled, potentially causing months of family separation for those planning to travel together or join H-1B workers in the United States.
Immediate Action Items
1. Check appointment status now - Log into visa appointment profiles to check for rescheduling notices and retrieve updated appointment letters.
2. Avoid non-essential travel - Employees in the U.S. with expired visa stamps should postpone international travel unless absolutely necessary.
3. Notify employers immediately - Employees with rescheduled appointments should inform employers to plan for remote work, project delays, or other contingencies.
4. Evaluate rescheduling carefully - Employees should consider whether the new date works before using their one reschedule opportunity. Keep in mind that consular posts could reschedule the visa appointment date again, with little to no warning.
5. Plan for extended absence - Employees traveling abroad to apply for visa stamps and who are not impacted by the recent rescheduling should anticipate lengthy wait times for visa appointments and possible delays in visa processing.
We are tracking consular posts that are rescheduling visa appointments, as well as a DOS guidance on expedite options for emergency situations. The DOS has not announced when operational capacity at US consulates will return to normal levels or whether reduced capacity is permanent while the online presence review policy remains in effect.
For questions about specific cases or travel planning, please contact our office.