Business Standard reports that US consulates across India have begun cancelling thousands of H-1B visa interviews and pushing new dates into mid-2026 in order to implement mandatory social-media background checks that start on 15 December. Applicants and their dependants must now undergo an ‘online presence review’ before officers can issue visas.
While the immediate disruption is centred in India, the policy applies worldwide and has already hit Hong Kong dual-nationals and SAR passport holders who filed in New Delhi or Chennai to take advantage of India’s traditionally faster processing. Several Hong Kong-based fintech firms told the Post that key engineers returning home for weddings are now stuck because their stamping appointments were auto-rescheduled to 2026.
For individuals and corporates struggling to navigate these sudden shifts, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) offers real-time visa-requirement updates, document checklists and concierge filing services that can expedite alternative route applications. The platform’s dashboard lets HR teams track multiple employees’ cases in one place, making it easier to pivot to Canadian work permits or Singapore employment passes while the U.S. backlog clears.
![US consulates cancel H-1B appointments as social-media vetting expands, stranding Hong Kong tech talent in India]()
Immigration lawyers warn that employees who cannot re-enter the US within 60 days may violate payroll and tax-home rules, forcing companies to place them on unpaid leave or terminate contracts. Under Hong Kong’s Employment Ordinance, employers remain liable for certain benefits even when an overseas assignment is interrupted, creating unexpected cost exposure.
Mobility teams should immediately audit travel plans for all US-bound staff, advise against non-essential departures until consular capacity stabilises, and explore alternatives such as Canada’s Global Skills Strategy or remote-work arrangements from Hong Kong or Singapore. Where travel is unavoidable, lawyers recommend preparing a comprehensive social-media dossier – including old handles and deleted accounts – to pre-empt refusals.
The episode is a cautionary tale about geopolitical ripple effects: Washington’s security focus on online footprints is colliding with Asia-Pacific talent-mobility cycles just as Hong Kong companies accelerate US expansion in biotech and AI. Contingency staffing and flexible assignment terms will be critical for 2026 planning.
While the immediate disruption is centred in India, the policy applies worldwide and has already hit Hong Kong dual-nationals and SAR passport holders who filed in New Delhi or Chennai to take advantage of India’s traditionally faster processing. Several Hong Kong-based fintech firms told the Post that key engineers returning home for weddings are now stuck because their stamping appointments were auto-rescheduled to 2026.
For individuals and corporates struggling to navigate these sudden shifts, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) offers real-time visa-requirement updates, document checklists and concierge filing services that can expedite alternative route applications. The platform’s dashboard lets HR teams track multiple employees’ cases in one place, making it easier to pivot to Canadian work permits or Singapore employment passes while the U.S. backlog clears.
Immigration lawyers warn that employees who cannot re-enter the US within 60 days may violate payroll and tax-home rules, forcing companies to place them on unpaid leave or terminate contracts. Under Hong Kong’s Employment Ordinance, employers remain liable for certain benefits even when an overseas assignment is interrupted, creating unexpected cost exposure.
Mobility teams should immediately audit travel plans for all US-bound staff, advise against non-essential departures until consular capacity stabilises, and explore alternatives such as Canada’s Global Skills Strategy or remote-work arrangements from Hong Kong or Singapore. Where travel is unavoidable, lawyers recommend preparing a comprehensive social-media dossier – including old handles and deleted accounts – to pre-empt refusals.
The episode is a cautionary tale about geopolitical ripple effects: Washington’s security focus on online footprints is colliding with Asia-Pacific talent-mobility cycles just as Hong Kong companies accelerate US expansion in biotech and AI. Contingency staffing and flexible assignment terms will be critical for 2026 planning.
