Please notify the firm immediately if you have been charged with or convicted of a criminal offense, so we can assess the impact on your travel eligibility and provide appropriate guidance.
H-1B and H-4 visa appointments require online presence review: As of December 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will require that an online presence review be conducted for all H-1B applicants and their dependents. To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for H-1B and their dependents (H-4), F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to “public.” The State Department uses all available information in visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety.
Delay in H-1B/H-4 visa appointments: There have been reports that many H-1B and H-4 visa appointments originally scheduled for mid- to late-December 2025 are being cancelled and re-scheduled for a later time. E-mail correspondence from the consulates confirms that under the new review policy, consular posts will interview fewer H-1B and H-4 applicants each day, and therefore, posts are cancelling upcoming appointments to align with the pace of the new expected processing queue.
Reports of Visa Revocation: It is being reported that the Department of State appears to be initiating a visa revocation process for H-1B holders similar to the actions taken against F-1 students. Revocation notices are being issued based on prior arrests, including matters dating back to 2017. The key distinction from the earlier F-1 situation is that DOS is explicitly labeling these revocations as “prudential,” which confirms that affected individuals may continue to maintain their status. Please continue to review all correspondence you receive from DOS to ensure your visa has not been revoked.
In-person Visa Interview Requirements: Effective September 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will significantly restrict eligibility for nonimmigrant visa interview waivers, commonly referred to as “dropbox” appointments. Under the new policy, nearly all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those applying to renew work visas (e.g., H1B), will be required to attend an in-person interview at a consular post. In addition, applicants under 14 and over 79 years old will also be required to attend an interview.
The following classifications are exempt from visa interviews: Applicants renewing a full validity B visa (including a Border Crossing card/foil for Mexican nationals) within 12 months of the prior visa’s expiration or while still valid, if the applicant was at least 18 years old at the time of the prior B visa issuance; and, applicants applying for a A-1, A-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, or TECRO E-1 or other diplomatic- or official-type visas.
All nonimmigrant visa applicants must ensure that the DS-160 number displayed on their application confirmation page matches the DS-160 number entered on their online appointment account. Additionally, the DS-160 form must be updated to reflect any changes and signed at least 3 business days prior to the scheduled appointment. Non-compliance with this guideline will require you to reschedule your visa interview. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the inability to attend the visa interview. Bring a printed copy of your DS-160 confirmation page to the visa appointment.
CBP Searches: Please be advised that there are reports of an increase in CBPs searches of electronic devices including phones, laptops, and iPads, for individuals entering the U.S. These searches may include a basic search where CBP Officers go through the content of your electronic devices such as photos, videos, messages, including any recently deleted content that is still on the device. CBP may also perform more advanced searches of devices, where they download the full contents of your device and save a copy of your data or confiscate your device(s) for an extended period. Note that while you are not required to provide CBP with passwords for your devices, you may be denied entry to the U.S. if you refuse to do. Under the current Administration, CBP officers have also been reviewing the social media accounts of individuals seeking to enter the U.S. As such, please be aware of what is posted on your social media account(s). Should you choose to travel, we advise travelling with as little data and as few devices as possible.
YL Guidance: We recommend that you plan your travels very carefully and review consular processing timelines (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/global-visa-wait-tim…) or avoid travel entirely due to the uncertainty surrounding potential policy changes under this administration. Guidance is emerging abruptly and with little to no advance notice and being outside the United States during this period may create unanticipated complications. Additionally, the U.S. consulates may experience delays in reviewing visa applications and issuing visa stamps under this administration.
