On December 3, 2025, the Department of State announced that it will start conducting "online presence" reviews for individuals applying for H-1B and H-4 visa stamps, effective December 15, 2025. Note that "online presence" may include, but is not limited to, one's personal and professional social media, e.g. Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
In connection with this new policy, several U.S. consulates and embassies have begun canceling and rescheduling some—though not all—H-visa appointments originally scheduled for December 15 or later to allow time for the additional review process. While consulates are actively rescheduling these appointments, new dates may not be available for several months. We anticipate that more consulates and embassies may follow this approach in the coming days and weeks, which could result in longer visa interview wait times. If you have a scheduled H-visa interview appointment, please be sure to closely monitor the email account you provided to the U.S. consulate or embassy when you scheduled your interview for any messages about possible appointment changes.
If you are planning international travel and will need a new visa stamp to return to the U.S., please take into account the limited availability of visa interviews and the possibility that existing visa interviews may be cancelled and rescheduled.
For more details about the visa application process—including recommended travel documents and current travel restrictions—please visit the FSIS travel page. ITS also offers guidance on international travel with technology, which we encourage you to review.