H-1B applicants get approvals after social media vetting

While the US government’s rescheduling of H-1B visa appointments has left many IT professionals stranded in India for months, a section of applicants has recently begun receiving visa approvals following strict social media vetting.

According to applicants who appeared for interviews at the US Consulates in Hyderabad and Chennai, officials are now asking them to submit all social media handles or



links through email and ensure their profiles are set to public view.

In an anonymous Facebook post, an applicant who attended an interview in Chennai on December 22 described a swift experience despite the new requirements. Along with routine questions about the company, role and Labour Condition Application, the applicant was asked to disclose any social media accounts not already listed in the DS-160 form.