U.S. visa appointments cancelled? Here’s why!

Over the last few days, several candidates have been reporting that the United States visa interviews have been getting cancelled. Now an interesting reason is being established in the background and let us have a look into the same.

Several H1B and H4 visa applicants have faced sudden cancellations of their US visa interview appointments as the United States prepares to introduce stricter social media screening rules. The new review process, expected to take effect from mid December 2025, requires applicants to make their social media profiles publicly accessible for closer scrutiny by US authorities.

Due to the implementation of this policy, US consulates, particularly in India, have significantly reduced the number of daily visa interviews. As a result, many applicants who had secured interview slots in December have received notifications that their appointments have been cancelled or postponed.

In many cases, these interviews have been rescheduled to early 2026, creating uncertainty for thousands of professionals and their families.

While biometric appointments are continuing as planned, the limited interview capacity has created a growing backlog. Immigration experts warn that the delays could seriously impact individuals changing jobs, returning to the US after travel, or attending important personal events such as weddings or family commitments.

Applicants have been advised to carefully monitor their appointment portals and rely only on official communication from US embassies. The sudden changes have triggered anxiety among visa holders, with many fearing travel disruptions and prolonged stays outside the United States due to visa stamping delays.