Starting December 15, the United States will expand “online presence review” of all “specialty occupation temporary worker (H-1B) visa applicants and their dependents in the H-4 visa classification”, a spokesperson of the U.S. Embassy said on Wednesday (December 10, 2025).
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“In every visa case, we will take the time necessary to ensure an applicant does not pose a risk to the safety and security of the United States and that he or she has credibly established his or her eligibility for the visa sought, including that the applicant intends to engage in activities consistent with the terms of admission,” said the spokesperson explaining the reasons behind the scrutiny of the applicants’ online presence.
“The Department of State regularly shifts appointments as needed to match resource availability. We will communicate any changes directly to affected visa applicants,” the spokesperson further said.
In September this year, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a $100,000 annual fee on fresh H-1B visa applications, triggering panic among the vast IT workforce of India that works as a bridge between the two countries. The announcement was apparently aimed at facilitating employment opportunities for the U.S. citizens in the IT sector.
