Why the US is tightening vetting for H-1B visa applicants, embassy explains

According to the embassy, the expanded vetting is intended to address alleged misuse of the H-1B programme.

The United States has expanded its visa screening process to include comprehensive online presence checks for all H-1B and H-4 applicants worldwide, a move officials say is aimed at curbing abuse of the work visa programme while safeguarding national security.

In a post on X, the US Embassy India announced a “worldwide alert” for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, stating that from December 15 the Department of State has broadened online reviews as part of standard visa screening. The measure applies globally to applicants of all nationalities seeking these visas.

According to the embassy, the expanded vetting is intended to address alleged misuse of the H-1B programme while still allowing US companies to recruit “the best of the best” temporary foreign workers.

While embassies and consulates continue to accept and process applications, applicants have been advised to apply early and be prepared for longer processing times.

Crackdown on abuse, focus on security

The announcement comes amid a wider US crackdown on perceived abuse of the H-1B system and heightened scrutiny linked to illegal immigration and national security concerns.

The H-1B visa is extensively used by American technology firms, and Indian professionals - particularly in technology and healthcare - make up one of the largest groups of recipients.

Indian authorities have acknowledged the shift. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the US administration now treats “every visa adjudication as a national security decision,” reiterating Washington’s stance that a US visa is “a privilege, not a right.”