The US State Department has made it mandatory to check social media profiles for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants. This new rule has come into effect from today i.e. 15 December 2025. Earlier this scrutiny was done only for F, M and J visas of students and exchange visitors, now it has been extended to H-1B i.e. skilled workers and H-4 visas of their family members also.

Social media account will have to be made public

According to the State Department, the purpose of this investigation is to strengthen national security. Every visa application will now be viewed from the perspective of national security. Applicants have been asked to make ‘public’ the privacy settings of all their social media accounts (like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.) so that the officials can easily check. If the profile remains private or any online activity appears suspicious, the visa may be delayed or even denied.

Appointments of visa applicants in India canceled

Due to this new rule, many H-1B and H-4 visa interview dates have been canceled in India. Many December appointments have now been shifted to March 2026. This effect is being seen especially in American embassies like Hyderabad and Chennai. This is affecting thousands of Indian tech professionals and their families, as most of the H-1B visa applications come from India.

Visa of Indians in America canceled

Some H-1B and H-4 visa holders living in the US have received emails that their visas have been ‘prudential revocation’. This usually happens when old legal cases (even if there was no conviction) are re-examined. According to immigration experts, this cancellation does not affect the legal stay in the US, but there will be re-checking the next time at the time of visa stamping.

Visa processing time will increase

The State Department has clearly said that visa is not a right but a privilege. He will use all available information to ensure that applicants do not pose a threat to America’s security or interests. This change may increase visa processing time and impact travel plans.

Applicants are advised to pre-check their social media posts and ensure that there is no information that is inconsistent with the visa rules.

US President Donald Trump signed an announcement on Friday (September 19, 2025), under which there is a provision to increase the H1B visa fee to US $ 1,00,000 (Rs 88 lakh) annually. For this fee, the first $ 10,000 (8 to 10 lakh) was fixed. Trump’s move is expected to adversely affect Indian professionals working in America.

At the same time, US Commerce Minister Howard Lutnik was seen justifying this decision of Trump. He said, ‘Is that person so precious that the company should give $ 100,000 to the government every year. This is the purpose of immigration. Keep Americans on jobs, make sure the people coming to the top talent. The President’s attitude is very clear. The top talent is only for America, stop rubbish. ‘

Only capable people get entry into America

Howard Lutnik insisted, ‘The purpose of this policy of Trump is to ensure that only capable people get admission. The company will have to decide. Do they want this, is the person so valuable that he should get a payment of one million dollars annually, or should he return home and achieve even more high status in America? ‘

He said, ‘If someone has to train, then give training to the youths who have completed studies from good universities of our country, train Americans. Do not snatch our jobs by bringing people from outside.

Technical companies dependent on foreign talent

Trump has already been questioning the H-1B visa. This visa is especially important for technical companies, as they are very dependent on foreign talent. According to government data, people with about two-thirds of H-1B visas are done in computer and tech related work. However, this visa is also used to hire engineers, teachers and health sector employees.

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US President Donald Trump has issued instructions regarding enrollment and visa of international students in the universities of the country. Due to this situation, the number of Indian students in American universities is seeing a decline. Education Consultants of Hyderabad say that the number of Indian students going to America may fall by about 70 percent. The main reason behind this decline is the stopping the availability of visa appointment slots from the US and a sudden increase in the rate of visa rejections.

Sanjeev Rai of Hyderabad Overseas Consultants told the Times of India, “By this time most of the students have completed their visa interviews and were preparing for their flight. But this year, students are refreshed on the portal only in the hope of getting Visa Appointment Slots. It is only refreshed on the portal so far. This is the worst situation in the last several years.

However, US officials had said in this regard that visa slots will be released in a phased manner, but so far there is a lot of confusion in this matter and due to this, students are also very upset.

Those who have booked slots also did not get confirmation

At the same time, Ankit Jain of Window Overseas Education Consultancy said in this regard, “Students who have been able to book a visa appointment slot in the beginning, have not yet received confirmation reply. He also said that it seems as if the system of America is opening to test just to test, because even after booking, no student has got the situation now. Indian students are turning to other countries instead of studying in America.

I thought my one year would be wasted- Indian student

Regarding the US visa, a 23 -year -old Indian student said, “I could not wait anymore, I felt that my one year would be ruined. Because it seems that now the road ahead is closed, so I withdrew my impression.” The student said that now he is looking for options in Germany to do masters in automotive engineering.

Everyday, nervous students and their families’ phones- Arvind

Arvind Manduwa of the i20 Fever Consultancy said, “If visa slots are not released in the next few days, then thousands of dreams will be broken. This time we can see a decline of about 80 percent. That is why we get calls from many students and their parents every day, whose voice is clearly visible.”

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Us hb visa policy: The US has made another change in its immigration policy. US President Donald Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” on Friday (July 4, 2025) last week. Under this bill, now visa applicants will have to pay a visa integrity fee of $ 250. This fee will be in the form of a type of security deposit and can also be returned when certain conditions are met. However, it was also said that this fee can also be increased every year according to inflation.

This new US rule will be applicable from 2026 next year and will also be applicable to all non-immigrant visa applications, including tourist/business (B-1/b-2), student (F/m), work (H-1B), and exchange (J) Visa. At the same time, under this new rule, only diplomatic class visas (A and G) have been exempted from this new fee.

According to the provisions of this law, this additional fee will be recovered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) while issuing a visa. This fee will be charged in addition to the fee levied on the existing visa application.

New law brought for strict action against illegal immigration

This new rule has been brought under efforts by US President Donald Trump to take strict action against illegal immigration and strictly follow the rules.

Apart from this, other charges related to travel have also been included in this new bill. It also includes a $ 24-94 fee, Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee for passengers of Visa Wave Program and a $ 30-$ 30 electronic visa update system (EVUS) fee for some Chinese citizens having a 10-year B-1/B-2 visa. According to the report of Fragoman, an US -based Immigration Service firm, all these cannot be forgiven in any situation.

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Us visa policy: The US has made a big change in visa rules. He has implemented a new law regarding any foreign national who visited Gaza Strip. According to the new rule, social media accounts will be investigated during a visa application on behalf of any foreign national who visited Gaza Strip after 1 January 2007. This decision has been taken by the US State Department under the direction of Secretary Marco Rubio. This rule has been applied to both all types of visa immigrants and non-immigrants.

It also includes student visa, tourist visa and diplomatic visits. In addition, employees and volunteers of non-governmental organizations (NGOS), who have worked in Gaza. These people will come under the purview of policy.

Digital surveillance in the name of security

The primary objective of the new policy is to identify the possible security risks of the people who have returned from Gaza. If any such content is found in a person’s social media or digital activities, which is considered a threat to the national security of America, then his visa application will be sent for inter-agency review. On the matter, Secretary Marco Rubio said that we have canceled more than 300 such visas since the beginning of 2025, including many students visas.

The target was made to those criticizing Israel?

According to reports, many foreign students, who criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Their visas have been canceled. This step also indicates restricting the criticism of America’s foreign policy. Whereas the US Constitution provides freedom of expression to every person, irrespective of its visa status.

Harvard University became the main target

The Trump administration has specially targeted Harvard University. Based on the protests in Harvard after the Gaza struggle, the administration demanded policy change from the university, which is as follows.

• Eliminating positive reservation.
• Screening of students who can be “opposed to American values”.
• Control anti -Jewish activities in the campus.

Federal funding of $ 2 billion has been stopped for rejecting these demands. The Homeland Security Department even said that Harvard is no longer eligible to host international students.

Is this policy against the spirit of the Constitution?

The United Nations, human rights organizations and many American academics have seen the move as ‘digital censorship’ and ‘violation of freedom of expression’. They believe that this policy is contrary to the democratic values ​​of America. This is an attempt to silence students and human rights activists. Puts foreign applicants in an atmosphere of fear.

Us visa bulletin: Due to the immigration policy of US President Donald Trump, thousands of Indians are seen wandering on the dreams of being American. Recently, the US State Department has released its visa bulletin for May 2025, which has brought even more bad news for the Indian H-1B and green card candidates. In this, a significant decline in the class-based fifth priority (EB-5) category for Indians has been shown.

According to the documents, the EB-5 unreserved category visa for Indians will move back more than six months to May 1, 2019. On the other hand, China remains on January 22, 2014. Bulletin states, “EB-5 in unreserved visa categories due to the use of high demand and number from India, as well as increasing demand and number of use in the rest of the world, it has become necessary to further back to the final action date from India to keep the use of the number under the annual limit of FY 2025 within the annual limit of FY 2025.”

What does the new visa bulletin say for the second category?

There has been no change in employment-based, first preference (EB-1) category. The cutoff date for India remains on February 2, 2022. At the same time, this date for China is November 8, 2022. Along with this, other countries will also remain in this category.

There has been no change in the EB-2 category for Indians and Chinese citizens in the employment-based, second preference (EB-2) category. The cutoff date for India will remain January 1, 2013, while for China it will remain October 1, 2020. The EB2 cutoff date for all other countries will remain June 22, 2023.

India’s cutoff date has moved two weeks to 15 April 2013 in employment-based, third preference (EB-3) category, while China’s cutoff remains on 1 November, 2020. The cutoff date of other countries remains on January 1, 2023.

EB-3 other workers: EB-3 for Indians in other labor category, the cutoff date matches the EB-3 category from April 15, 2013. April 1, 2017 for China, while for all other countries is 22 May, 2021.

What does a visa withdrawal mean?

The US State Department releases a visa bulletin every month, listed for the cut-off date of visa availability for different nationalities. This determines which applicants are eligible to submit their application for adjustment of visa status or are eligible for permanent residence. Applicants with priority date before the date of cut-off in the latest bulletin are usually eligible to apply for permanent residence.

Visa withdrawal is when more people apply for a visa available for a visa in a particular category or country. Recovery usually occurs at the end of the financial year when issuing visas reaches the annual category or per-country boundaries.

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Us driving rules: In the US recent action on foreign students, the authorities have now started targeting the students involved in small criminal cases along with breaking traffic rules. Recently, dozens of Indian students have been instructed to leave America. It has been said that his F-1 student visa is no longer valid. Email has been sent to students in this regard.

According to the Times of India report, the previous criminal cases against students in the email have been cited. These include allegations ranging from driving in the wrong lane to driving and stealing goods from shops. At the same time, according to the report of New York Times, at least 147 foreign students were refused to live in America in recent times.

What was said in the email sent to students?

Due to the proven of criminal defects, students are always in danger of losing their reputation, but have rarely been seen as a justification to participate in political work and violate traffic rules.

According to TI, the email received by the students said, “Your SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, a legal document that stores data of immigrants and proves their legal status) The ending of the record means that now you do not have a legitimate F-1 non-resident status. It means that you do not have the legal permission to stay in America now. Is.

It said, “If your visa has been canceled, it means that the F-1 visa in your passport is no longer valid. If you are in America, you may need to plan immediate departure.”

What do the lawyers say?

“It is very rare to cancel SEVIS for crimes like Texas’s immigration lawyer Chand Parvathneni, a Texas’s immigration lawyer Chand Parvathneni, who handled 30 such cases,” driving, lane, or driving at high speed. “

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