From December 15, the US State Department started screening social media accounts of visa applicants. This new rule mainly targets H-1B, H-4, student visas, and other non-immigrant visas. Immigration lawyer Brad Bernstein said officials will review all social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Snapchat. They might also check resumes, blogs, YouTube comments, or any online posts matching the applicant’s name. Bernstein warned that locked profiles may cause instant visa rejections. He advised applicants to make their social media public and remove any contradictions before their visa interview. "Make sure your online life matches visa application," he stressed. The officials look for inconsistency or signs of immigrant intent, like posts supporting extremist groups or hostile comments about the US. Bernstein explained, "If your visa form says you are a full-time engineering student, but your LinkedIn shows freelance work or you are driving an Uber, now you have a credibility issue." He also cautioned against deleting posts after filing, as that raises suspicion. Due to this new social media scrutiny, many visa appointments for late December have been pushed to next year, some only after March. This has left many H-1B candidates stuck in India without clear timelines for their visa interviews.