Barely a month after the US State Department expanded social-media vetting for all temporary-visa classes, Indian applicants are feeling the pinch. On 25 January 2026 The Times of India reported a sharp jump in 221(g) notices—essentially ‘pending’ refusals—issued at US posts across the country. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Consular officers now comb through up to five years of Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and even GitHub activity. Any incongruity between online persona and stated travel purpose triggers ‘administrative processing’, adding weeks or months to a file. Applicants with minor past arrests, even if charges were dropped, are seeing similar delays.
Amid this heightened scrutiny, VisaHQ can help Indian travelers navigate the evolving U.S. visa landscape. By visiting the dedicated India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/), applicants can access customized document checklists, receive expert reviews of their social-media disclosures, and track application status in real time—all of which can minimize the chances of unexpected 221(g) delays.
![Social-Media Screening Triggers Surge in 221(g) Visa Refusals for Indians]()
India is acutely exposed: it generates the world’s largest volume of H-1B, L-1, F-1 and B-1/B-2 cases. Travel-industry insiders estimate that each day of delay costs outbound tour operators ₹8–10 crore in lost bookings and re-scheduling fees. Tech giants running rotation programs report tens of thousands of dollars in sunk costs per postponed assignment.
Lawyers advise applicants to purge unverifiable work experience from profiles, lock down controversial posts and prepare detailed explanations for any gaps. Companies are urged to factor in a 4-6-week buffer for US travel and explore Canada or Europe as interim meeting hubs.
While Washington defends the checks as a security imperative, critics say they amount to a de-facto content-based filter that could violate free-speech norms. Indian officials have not formally protested but are monitoring impact as part of the high-level Mobility Dialogue with the US.
Consular officers now comb through up to five years of Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and even GitHub activity. Any incongruity between online persona and stated travel purpose triggers ‘administrative processing’, adding weeks or months to a file. Applicants with minor past arrests, even if charges were dropped, are seeing similar delays.
Amid this heightened scrutiny, VisaHQ can help Indian travelers navigate the evolving U.S. visa landscape. By visiting the dedicated India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/), applicants can access customized document checklists, receive expert reviews of their social-media disclosures, and track application status in real time—all of which can minimize the chances of unexpected 221(g) delays.
India is acutely exposed: it generates the world’s largest volume of H-1B, L-1, F-1 and B-1/B-2 cases. Travel-industry insiders estimate that each day of delay costs outbound tour operators ₹8–10 crore in lost bookings and re-scheduling fees. Tech giants running rotation programs report tens of thousands of dollars in sunk costs per postponed assignment.
Lawyers advise applicants to purge unverifiable work experience from profiles, lock down controversial posts and prepare detailed explanations for any gaps. Companies are urged to factor in a 4-6-week buffer for US travel and explore Canada or Europe as interim meeting hubs.
While Washington defends the checks as a security imperative, critics say they amount to a de-facto content-based filter that could violate free-speech norms. Indian officials have not formally protested but are monitoring impact as part of the high-level Mobility Dialogue with the US.
