A U.S. State Department directive that took effect this week requires H-1B workers and their H-4 dependants to make their social-media profiles publicly viewable for visa adjudication. The policy has sent shockwaves through the Indian diaspora, which accounts for more than 70 per cent of all H-1B approvals and nearly 90 per cent of H-4 Employment Authorisation Document holders.
Under the rule, consular officers may scrutinise applicants’ posts on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and other platforms for indicators of national-security or immigration-fraud risk. Immigration lawyers warn that sarcasm, political memes or even minor discrepancies in job titles could trigger lengthy “administrative processing,” jeopardising work permits that are already under time pressure after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ended automatic 540-day EAD extensions this year.
![New U.S. Social-Media Vetting Rule Stokes Anxiety Among Indian H-1B Families]()
Approximately 200,000 Indian spouses could be at risk of losing jobs if visa renewals stall. Tech companies with large Indian workforces—particularly in Silicon Valley—are advising employees to audit their social footprints, use professional email addresses on petitions and avoid reposting politically sensitive content.
For Indian firms running U.S. onsite projects, the development complicates mobility planning. HR teams now need longer lead times for LCA filings, backup staffing plans and employee counselling on digital hygiene. Consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai have already reported a 28 per cent rise in “221(g)” administrative holds since Monday, according to visa-facilitation agencies.
Indian officials said they are monitoring the situation but view it as a sovereign U.S. decision. Industry lobby NASSCOM is preparing to raise the issue during the next India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue, citing economic disruption and mental-health stress on highly skilled migrants.
Under the rule, consular officers may scrutinise applicants’ posts on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and other platforms for indicators of national-security or immigration-fraud risk. Immigration lawyers warn that sarcasm, political memes or even minor discrepancies in job titles could trigger lengthy “administrative processing,” jeopardising work permits that are already under time pressure after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ended automatic 540-day EAD extensions this year.
Approximately 200,000 Indian spouses could be at risk of losing jobs if visa renewals stall. Tech companies with large Indian workforces—particularly in Silicon Valley—are advising employees to audit their social footprints, use professional email addresses on petitions and avoid reposting politically sensitive content.
For Indian firms running U.S. onsite projects, the development complicates mobility planning. HR teams now need longer lead times for LCA filings, backup staffing plans and employee counselling on digital hygiene. Consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai have already reported a 28 per cent rise in “221(g)” administrative holds since Monday, according to visa-facilitation agencies.
Indian officials said they are monitoring the situation but view it as a sovereign U.S. decision. Industry lobby NASSCOM is preparing to raise the issue during the next India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue, citing economic disruption and mental-health stress on highly skilled migrants.
