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New Visa Rules Spark Cancellations, Privacy Concerns

12/11/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The U.S. State Department will implement social media screening rules for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants starting December 15, 2025.
Applicants must make public their social media accounts and disclose usernames from the past five years.
The rollout has caused widespread cancellations and rescheduling of visa appointments in India, with some delays through May 2026, according to critics who warn of privacy concerns amid broader immigration scrutiny.

History

Historical Context

The Social Security Act, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 14, 1935, aimed to provide economic security during the Great Depression, establishing a framework for benefits to retirees and the unemployed. Over the decades, its implementation has influenced immigration policies, with current scrutiny of foreign workers echoing past challenges, raising privacy concerns in the evolving landscape of U.S. immigration.

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Story summary

The U.S. State Department will implement social media screening rules for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants starting December 15, 2025.
Applicants must make public their social media accounts and disclose usernames from the past five years.
The rollout has caused widespread cancellations and rescheduling of visa appointments in India, with some delays through May 2026, according to critics who warn of privacy concerns amid broader immigration scrutiny.

1 / 2