India, Dec. 21 -- The pre-scheduled interviews of thousands of H-1B visa applicants, originally slated for later in December in India, have been abruptly postponed by several months, reportedly due to new, stricter background and social media vetting rules.

The applicants, who had their visa appointments after December 15, have been particularly affected, with some interviews being rescheduled to as late as October 2026.

The US embassy in India has urged visa applicants not to come to the consular offices based on their previously scheduled interview date.

"If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date. Arriving on your p...