Amid H-1B row and vetting delays, Indian applicant reveals sudden visa reversal from ‘refused’ to ‘approved’

The US State Department has quietly expanded its social media screening requirements for skilled-worker visas, a move that is now beginning to affect applicants on the ground. As of December 15, the enhanced vetting process applies to H-1B visa holders as well as their H-4 dependents, a shift that was not widely publicized but has since led to delays, passport retention, and temporary refusals pending administrative review.



Amid the uncertainty surrounding H-1B processing, an applicant from India has shared their recent experience online, noting that emergency visa requests are currently being approved. The individual posted details on Reddit to help others better understand what to expect under the updated screening process.





According to the Reddit post, the applicant arrived at the US Consulate in Chennai on Monday, December 15, at 9:30 am. “Reached the consulate around 8:45 AM and was let in without having to wait. First, there was a queue for fingerprint verification. After fingerprint verification, they separated all H-1B and H4s into a separate queue,” the post read.

Interview process and additional screening

During the interview, the applicant was asked whether the case was a new application or a renewal, along with questions about their role, employer, and salary.



Following the interview, the visa officer retained the applicant’s passport, explaining that the case required additional processing.



The Redditor said they were issued a white 221G slip and instructed to keep all social media accounts active. “Expect to hear back from us via email in approximately one week,” the visa officer told the applicant.

CEAC status changes

After returning to their hotel, the applicant checked the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) portal and found that the status had changed to “refused.”



While the status remained “refused” on December 16, it was updated to “approved” on December 17 at 6 pm.



“[Mon., Dec. 22nd, 2pm]: ‘Ready for Pickup’ on the Passport Status box of usvisascheduling. Also received an Email/SMSregarding pickup,” the Reddit user wrote.

Advice for other applicants

Referencing similar timelines shared by other Reddit users, the applicant noted that administrative processing under emergency appointments typically takes one to two weeks. They encouraged others navigating the process to remain patient, urging applicants to “Keep your spirits up and keep trying.”



The Redditor also shared that they carried a new DS-160 form on the day of their biometrics appointment in addition to the one originally used to book the slot.



In the updated DS-160, the applicant included full links to all social media accounts where possible. “For those, I had just included usernames,” they wrote, explaining that some links were too long to include in full.