H-1B and H-4 Visa Applicants May See Interview Rescheduling at U.S. Consulates

Several U.S. consular posts abroad have recently begun rescheduling certain H-1B and H-4 visa interviews, particularly those originally scheduled for December 2025 or later. These changes are connected to new screening procedures announced by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and may affect applicants planning international travel in the coming months.

Below is a clear overview of what is happening and what applicants and employers should be aware of.

Why Are Visa Appointments Being Rescheduled?

Beginning December 15, 2025, DOS is expanding its online presence review to include:

• H-1B principal applicants
• H-4 dependent family members

This type of review has already been part of the visa process for F, M, and J applicants. As consular posts implement the expanded review for H-1B and H-4 cases, some posts have reduced the number of interviews they can conduct each day to accommodate the additional screening steps.

As a result, consulates in countries such as India, Ireland, and Vietnam have reported rescheduling interviews to later dates, in some cases several months out.

What the Online Presence Review Involves

Under the updated guidance, consular officers may review publicly available online information as part of the visa adjudication process. Applicants are instructed to ensure that social media accounts are set to public prior to their interview.

This review may include:

• Professional profiles, such as LinkedIn
• Public resumes or portfolios
• Other publicly accessible online activity

The purpose of this review is to support identity verification and confirm that an applicant’s background and activities align with the visa classification requested.

What Applicants Should Expect

If your visa interview is scheduled on or after December 15, 2025:

• You may receive a notice that your interview has been rescheduled to a later date
• The original appointment date will not be honored if a new date is issued
• Visa Application Center (VAC) biometrics appointments generally remain valid and are not affected
• Appointment systems may limit the number of times an interview can be rescheduled online
• Fee receipts older than one year may not be reusable for rescheduling

Applicants should monitor their appointment portals and email closely for official updates from the consulate.

Who Is Affected — and Who Is Not

These changes apply only to visa stamping at U.S. consulates abroad.

They do not affect:

• H-1B or H-4 petitions filed inside the United States with USCIS
• Change of status or extension filings processed domestically

However, even applicants with approved USCIS petitions will be subject to the online presence review when applying for a visa stamp outside the U.S.

Planning Ahead for Travel and Work

Because interview availability may be limited for a period of time, applicants and employers may want to plan carefully before scheduling international travel. Possible considerations include:

• Allowing additional time outside the U.S. for visa processing
• Preparing for remote work options if travel is necessary
• Monitoring project timelines if an employee’s return could be delayed

At Zhang-Louie PLLC, we closely track consular processing trends and agency guidance so clients can make informed decisions about travel, visa renewals, and timing. Our role is to help individuals and employers understand how procedural changes may affect real-world planning.