The United States has issued a worldwide alert announcing expanded screening measures for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, extending online presence reviews to every applicant regardless of nationality.
In a statement released Monday, the U.S. Department of State said the enhanced vetting is now part of standard visa screening and is being carried out globally. Officials said the move is intended to curb abuse of the H-1B program while continuing to allow American employers to recruit highly skilled foreign workers.
“This vetting is being conducted globally for all applicants of all nationalities for H-1B and H-4 visas,” the department said. “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.”
U.S. embassies and consulates will continue accepting and processing H-1B and H-4 applications, but applicants have been advised to apply as early as possible and prepare for longer processing times due to the additional reviews.
Under the new policy, which took effect December 15, consular officials will assess applicants’ online and social media activity as part of background checks. U.S. authorities have said the reviews are meant to identify individuals who may pose national security risks.
The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of non-immigrant visas under the Trump administration. Categories including H-1B, F-1 student visas, and J-1 exchange visas have all faced tighter oversight, with more extensive background checks leading to processing delays.
In recent weeks, hundreds of Indian H-1B visa holders who traveled home to renew their work permits have been left stranded after U.S. consulates abruptly cancelled scheduled interviews and reassigned appointments months later. Media reports have linked those cancellations to the expanded online vetting policy.
The increased scrutiny has cast uncertainty over the H-1B program, long a key pathway for highly skilled foreign professionals to work in the United States. Indians account for more than 70 per cent of H-1B visa recipients, but the program has faced growing political opposition as part of a broader shift toward stricter immigration policies.
U.S. officials maintain that the new screening measures are necessary to protect national security, even as visa holders and employers warn of prolonged delays and mounting disruption for workers and businesses alike.
