The US State Department has quietly expanded social media screening for skilled-worker visas. From December 15, this new process started applying to H-1B visa holders and their H-4 dependents. The change was not widely announced but is now causing delays, passport retention, and temporary visa refusals while under administrative review. An Indian applicant shared their recent experience on Reddit to help others understand what to expect. The person arrived at the US Consulate in Chennai on December 15 at 9:30 AM. They said, “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.” During the interview, the officer asked if the visa was new or a renewal. They also questioned the applicant about their role, employer, and salary. After the interview, the officer kept the passport, saying additional processing was needed. The applicant received a white 221G slip and was told to keep all social media accounts active. The officer said, “Expect to hear back from us via email in approximately one week.” Later, checking the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) portal, the applicant saw their status changed to “refused.” On December 16, it stayed refused, but by December 17 at 6 PM, it showed “approved.” On December 22 at 2 PM, their passport was marked “Ready for Pickup,” and they got an email and SMS about it. The Reddit user shared that emergency visa appointments usually take one to two weeks for administrative processing. They advised others to be patient and keep trying, saying, “Keep your spirits up and keep trying.” The applicant also mentioned carrying a new DS-160 form at their biometrics appointment, which included full social media links instead of just usernames, as some links were too long.